Method of increasing resistance to a fungal pathogen by applying a hydrophobin to a plant

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method of increasing resistance against fungal pathogens of the family Phacosporaceae plants and/or plant cells. This is achieved for instance by increasing the expression of a hydrophobin protein or fragment thereof in a plant, plant part and/or plant cell in comparison to wild type plants, wild type plant parts and/or wild type plant cells. In the transgenic plants hydrophobin can be expressed as a fusion protein to facilitate and/or enhance expression. Furthermore, the hydrophobin protein can be expressed including a secretion signal sequence which mediates secretion of the protein into the apoplast and/or into the cuticule.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/390,574, which is a National Stage application of International Application No. PCT/EP2013/055318, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/620,454, filed on Apr. 5, 2012; the entire contents of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to European Patent Application No. 12163267.3, filed Apr. 5, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED VIA EFS-WEB

This application was filed electronically via EFS-Web and includes an electronically submitted sequence listing in .txt format. The .txt file contains a sequence listing entitled “73554A_Seqlisting.txt” created on May 29, 2019, and is 116,920 bytes in size. The sequence listing contained in this .txt file is part of the specification and is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of increasing resistance against fungal pathogens, in particular, pathogens of the family Phacopsoraceae, for example soybean rust, in plants, plant parts, and/or plant cells. This is achieved by increasing the expression and/or activity of a hydrophobin protein in a plant, plant part and/or plant cell in comparison to wild type plants, wild type plant parts and/or wild type plant cells or by application of a formulation or solution containing a hydrophobin protein.

Furthermore, the invention relates to transgenic plants, plant parts, and/or plant cells having an increased resistance against fungal pathogens, in particular, pathogens of the family Phacopsoraceae, for example soybean rust, and to recombinant expression vectors comprising a sequence that is identical or homologous to a sequence encoding a hydrophobin protein.

Furthermore the invention relates to the formulation and application of hydrophobin proteins to plants, plant part and/or plant cells to modify the surface in a way that leads to decreased pathogen infection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The cultivation of agricultural crop plants serves mainly for the production of foodstuffs for humans and animals. Monocultures in particular, which are the rule nowadays, are highly susceptible to an epidemic-like spreading of diseases. The result is markedly reduced yields. To date, the pathogenic organisms have been controlled mainly by using pesticides. Nowadays, the possibility of directly modifying the genetic disposition of a plant or pathogen is also open to man.

Resistance generally describes the ability of a plant to prevent, or at least curtail the infestation and colonization by a harmful pathogen. Different mechanisms can be discerned in the naturally occurring resistance, with which the plants fend off colonization by phytopathogenic organisms. These specific interactions between the pathogen and the host determine the course of infection (Schopfer and Brennicke (1999) Pflanzenphysiologie, Springer Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg, Germany).

With regard to the race specific resistance, also called host resistance, a differentiation is made between compatible and incompatible interactions. In the compatible interaction, an interaction occurs between a virulent pathogen and a susceptible plant. The pathogen survives, and may build up reproduction structures, while the host mostly dies off. An incompatible interaction occurs on the other hand when the pathogen infects the plant but is inhibited in its growth before or after weak development of symptoms. In the latter case, the plant is resistant to the respective pathogen (Schopfer and Brennicke, vide supra). However, this type of resistance is specific for a certain strain or pathogen.

In both compatible and incompatible interactions a defensive and specific reaction of the host to the pathogen occurs. In nature, however, this resistance is often overcome because of the rapid evolutionary development of new virulent races of the pathogens (Neu et al. (2003) American Cytopathol. Society, MPMI 16 No. 7: 626-633).

Most pathogens are plant-species specific. This means that a pathogen can induce a disease in a certain plant species, but not in other plant species (Heath (2002) Can. J. Plant Pathol. 24: 259-264). The resistance against a pathogen in certain plant species is called non-host resistance. The non-host resistance offers strong, broad, and permanent protection from phytopathogens. Genes providing non-host resistance provide the opportunity of a strong, broad and permanent protection against certain diseases in non-host plants. In particular, such a resistance works for different strains of the pathogen.

Fungi are distributed worldwide. Approximately 100 000 different fungal species are known to date. Thereof rusts are of great importance. They can have a complicated development cycle with up to five different spore stages (spermatium, aecidiospore, uredospore, teleutospore and basidiospore).

During the infection of plants by pathogenic fungi, different phases are usually observed. The first phases of the interaction between phytopathogenic fungi and their potential host plants are decisive for the colonization of the plant by the fungus. During the first stage of the infection, the spores become attached to the surface of the plants, germinate, and the fungus penetrates the plant. The chemical properties of the surface (e.g., cuticle) are an important determinant for the recognition of the plant as a potential host (for review see Tucker and Talbot (2001) Surface attachment and pre-penetration stage development by plant pathogenic fungi, Annual Review of Phytopathology Vol. 39: 385-417). Fungi may penetrate the plant via existing ports such as stomata, lenticels, hydatodes and wounds, or else they penetrate the plant epidermis directly as the result of the mechanical force and with the aid of cell-wall-digesting enzymes. Specific infection structures are developed for penetration of the plant. The soybean rust Phakopsora pachyrhizi directly penetrates the plant epidermis. After crossing the epidermal cell, the fungus reaches the intercellular space of the mesophyll, where the fungus starts to spread through the leaves. To acquire nutrients the fungus penetrates mesophyll cells and develops haustoria inside the mesophyl cell. During the penetration process the plasmamembrane of the penetrated mesophyll cell stays intact. Therefore the soybean rust fungus establishes a biotrophic interaction with soybean.

The biotrophic phytopathogenic fungi, such as many rusts, depend for their nutrition on the metabolism of living cells of the plants. This type of fungi belong to the group of biotrophic fungi, like other rust fungi, powdery mildew fungi or oomycete pathogens like the genus Phytophthora or Peronospora. The necrotrophic phytopathogenic fungi depend for their nutrition on dead cells of the plants, e.g. species from the genus Fusarium, Rhizoctonia or Mycospaerella. Soybean rust has occupied an intermediate position, since it penetrates the epidermis directly, whereupon the penetrated cell becomes necrotic. After the penetration, the fungus changes over to an obligatory-biotrophic lifestyle. The subgroup of the biotrophic fungal pathogens which follows essentially such an infection strategy is heminecrotrohic. In contrast to a heminecrotrophic pathogen, a hemibiotrophic pathogen lives for a short period of time in a biotrophic manner and subsequently starts killing the host cell and/or host organism, i.e., changes for the rest of its life-cycle to a necrotrophic life-style.

The early, pre-penetration stages, i.e., attachment of the spore, germination of the spore, hyphal growth and the development of the infection structure (appressorium) are crucial for the success of the infection. Unfortunately the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unknown. Nevertheless there are a few indications that the expression of hydrophobins by the fungus are required for the development of hyphae and the appressorium. For a comprehensive review about the pre-penetration stage in plant-pathogen interactions and the involvement of hydrophobins see Tucker and Talbot, “Surfacec attachment and pre-penetration stage development by plant pathogeneic fungi (Annu. Rev. Phytopathol 2001, 39:385ff).

Hydrophobins are a class of small, cysteine-rich proteins with a length of about 100-150 amino acids which occur in nature only in filamentous fungi. They are amphiphilic and can form a layer on the surface of an object. Their natural functions include inter alia the coating of fungal spores, so that these do not stick together, the coating of aerial hyphae for reducing the surface tension of water and thus for facilitating the absorption of water, and possibly the signal transmittance between a fungus and its enviromnent (Whiteford. J. F. Spanu, P. D. (2001), Fungal Genet. Biol. 32 (3): 159-168; Wösten et al. (1999) Current Biol. 19: 1985-88; Bell et al. (1992), Genes Dev. 6: 2382-2394).

Hydrophobins generally have eight cysteine units. They can be isolated from natural sources, but can also be obtained by means of genetic engineering methods, as described for example in WO 2006/082251 and WO 2006/131564.

The first isolation and purification of hydrophobin was carried out from Schizophyllum commune in 1999. In the meantime, hydrophobin genes have been identified in Ascomycetes, Deuteromycetes and Basiodiomycetes. Some fungi comprise more than one hydrophobin gene, e.g. Schizophyllum commune, Coprinus cinereus and Aspergillus nidulans. On the basis of differences with regard to the hydropathy and the biophysical properties of the hydrophobins, these have been divided into two categories: class I and class II. Complementation experiments have shown that hydrophobins of the one class are able to replace hydrophobins of the other class to a certain degree as far as function is concerned. The different hydrophobins appear to be involved in different fungal development stages and to perform different functions therein (van Wetter et al. (2000) Mol. Microbiol. 36:201-210; Kershaw et al. (1998) Fungal Genet. Biol. 23:18-33).

Soybean rust has become increasingly important in recent times. The disease may be caused by the biotrophic rusts Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur). They belong to the class Basidiomycota, order Uredinales, family Phakopsoraceae. Both rusts infect a wide spectrum of leguminosic host plants. P. pachyrhizi, also referred to as Asian rust, is the more aggressive pathogen on soy (Glycine max), and is therefore, at least currently, of great importance for agriculture. P. pachyrhizi can be found in nearly all tropical and subtropical soy growing regions of the world. P. pachyrhizi is capable of infecting 31 species from 17 families of the Leguminosae under natural conditions and is capable of growing on further 60 species under controlled conditions (Sinclair et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the rust workshop (1995), National SoyaResearch Laboratory, Publication No. 1 (1996); Rytter J. L. et al., Plant Dis. 87, 818 (1984)). P. meibomiae has been found in the Caribbean Basin and in Puerto Rico, and has not caused substantial damage as yet.

P. pachyrhizi can currently be controlled in the field only by means of fungicides. Soy plants with resistance to the entire spectrum of the isolates are not available. When searching for resistant plants, six dominant genes Rpp1-5 and Rpp? (Hyuuga), which mediate resistance of soy to P. pachyrhizi, were discovered. The resistance was lost rapidly, as P. pachyrhizi develops new virulent races.

In recent years, fungal diseases, e.g. soybean rust, has gained in importance as pest in agricultural production. There was therefore a demand in the prior art for developing methods to control fungi and to provide fungal resistant plants.

Much research has been performed on the field of powdery and downy mildew infecting the epidermal layer of plants. However, the problem to cope with soybean rust which infects the mesophyll remains unsolved.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is inter alia to provide a method of increasing resistance against fungal pathogens, preferably rust pathogens (i.e., fungal pathogens of the order Pucciniales), preferably against fungal pathogens of the family Phacopsoraceae, more preferably against fungal pathogens of the genus Phacopsora, most preferably against Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur), also known as soybean rust.

Surprisingly, we found that fungal pathogens, in particular rust pathogens (i.e., fungal pathogens of the order Pucciniales), preferably fungal pathogens of the family Phacopsoraceae, for example soybean rust, can be controlled by overexpression of a hydrophobin protein. Thus, without being limited by theory, we found that fungal resistance can be achieved by expression of hydrophobin and therefore changing the physicochemical properties of the cuticle, the cell wall or the plasma membrane of the plant cell expressing the hydrophobin in a way that the fungus does not recognize its host or is inhibited by the presence of the hydrophobin. The same effect can be obtained by application of a pure or formulated hydrophobin protein solution to the plant.

The present invention therefore provides a method of increasing resistance against fungal pathogens, preferably against rust pathogens (i.e., fungal pathogens of the order Pucciniales), preferably against fungal pathogens of the family Phacopsoraceae, more preferably against fungal pathogens of the genus Phacopsora, most preferably against Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur), also known as soybean rust, in transgenic plants, transgenic plant parts, or transgenic plant cells by overexpressing one or more hydrophobin nucleic acids.

In one particular embodiment, the hydrophobin is expressed as a fusion protein comprising one or more of the elements selected from the group consisting of signal sequence, fusion partner polypeptide, linker sequence, and purification sequence.

In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophobin protein is fused to a secretion signal sequence, leading to the secretion of the protein, e.g., into the apoplast and/or into the cuticle. The fusion of the hydrophobin protein to a secretion signal sequence was chosen based on the theory that a change in the hydrophobicity of the leaf surface (or of the apoplast) might inhibit the growth of the fungal hyphae or appressorium. On the other hand it is also possible that the changing of physicochemical properties of the plasma membrane of the cells expressing hydrophobin would lead to an increased resistance. Furthermore, it is possible that changing of physicochemical properties of the cytoplasm effects the degree of resistance. In the latter case, a secretion of the protein would not be required.

A further object is to provide transgenic plants resistant against fungal pathogens, preferably rust pathogens (i.e., fungal pathogens of the order Pucciniales), preferably against fungal pathogens of the family Phacopsoraceae, more preferably against fungal pathogens of the genus Phacopsora, most preferably against Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur), also known as soybean rust, a method for producing such plants as well as a vector construct useful for the above methods.

Therefore, the present invention also refers to a recombinant vector construct and a transgenic plant, transgenic plant part, or transgenic plant cell comprising an exogenous hydrophobin nucleic acid. Furthermore, a method for the production of a transgenic plant, transgenic plant part or transgenic plant cell using the nucleic acid of the present invention is claimed herein. In addition, the use of a nucleic acid or the recombinant vector of the present invention for the transformation of a plant, plant part, or plant cell is claimed herein.

The objects of the present invention, as outlined above, are achieved by the subject-matter of the main claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined by the subject matter of the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the schematic illustration of a hydrophobin fusion protein comprising a purification sequence (e.g., a Histidine (His)-tag), a fusion partner polypeptide (e.g., part of the synthase subunit Pdx1), a linker sequence (e.g., a factor Xa protease recognition site) and a secretion signal sequence.

FIG. 2 shows the scoring system used to determine the level of diseased leaf area of wildtype and transgenic soy plants against the rust fungus P. pachyrhizi.

FIG. 3 shows the result of overexpression of hydrophobin in soybean plants, which have been infected with Asian soybean rust. The result of the scoring of 25 transgenic soy plants expressing the hydrophobin overexpression vector construct is shown. T₀ soybean plants expressing hydrophobin protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The evaluation of the diseased leaf area on all leaves was performed 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 25 soybean T₀ plants expressing hydrophobin (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 3. Overexpression of hydrophobin significantly (*: p<0.05) reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 26%.

FIG. 4 shows an alignment of various Hydrophobin proteins (including their fusion partners) (Hydrophobin Gm: SEQ ID NO: 42, HFBII version 1: SEQ ID NO: 45, HFBII version 2 (comprises additional amino acid residues for directed protein to inclusion bodies when expressed in E. coli): SEQ ID NO: 46, Hydrophbin_SC3 version 1: SEQ-ID NO: 43, Hydrophbin_SC3 version 2 (comprises additional amino acid residues for directed protein to inclusion bodies when expressed in E. coli): SEQ-ID NO: 44, yaaD_TT1: SEQ ID NO: 52, yaaD_HFPI: SEQ ID NO: 50, yaaD_HFBII: SEQ ID NO: 48, yaad: SEQ ID NO: 18).

FIG. 5 shows the result of the soybean rust disease scoring of soybean plants sprayed with the different hydrophobin varieties (10 plants each, Hydrophbin_SC3: SEQ ID NO: 43, yaaD_HFPI: SEQ ID NO: 50, HFBII: SEQ ID NO: 45) and the non-treated plants as control. Plants were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi 24 hours after treatment with the respective Hydrophobin protein solution. The evaluation of the diseased leaf area on all leaves was performed 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 10 soybean plants each were sprayed with the respective hydrophobin and evaluated in parallel to non-treated control plants. The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 contains a brief description of the sequences of the sequence listing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the examples included herein.

Definitions

Unless otherwise noted, the terms used herein are to be understood according to conventional usage by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. In addition to the definitions of terms provided herein, definitions of common terms in molecular biology may also be found in Rieger et al., 1991 Glossary of genetics: classical and molecular, 5th Ed., Berlin: Springer-Verlag; and in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, F. M. Ausubel et al., Eds., Current Protocols, a joint venture between Greene Publishing Associates, Inc. and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., (1998 Supplement).

It is to be understood that as used in the specification and in the claims, “a” or “an” can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used. Thus, for example, reference to “a cell” can mean that at least one cell can be utilized. It is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. The disclosures of all of these publications and those references cited within those publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Standard techniques for cloning, DNA isolation, amplification and purification, for enzymatic reactions involving DNA ligase, DNA polymerase, restriction endonucleases and the like, and various separation techniques are those known and commonly employed by those skilled in the art. A number of standard techniques are described in Sambrook et al., 1989 Molecular Cloning, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Plainview, N.Y.; Maniatis et al., 1982 Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Plainview, N.Y.; Wu (Ed.) 1993 Meth. Enzymol. 218, Part I; Wu (Ed.) 1979 Meth Enzymol. 68; Wu et al., (Eds.) 1983 Meth. Enzymol. 100 and 101; Grossman and Moldave (Eds.) 1980 Meth. Enzymol. 65; Miller (Ed.) 1972 Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; Old and Primrose, 1981 Principles of Gene Manipulation, University of California Press, Berkeley; Schleif and Wensink, 1982 Practical Methods in Molecular Biology; Glover (Ed.) 1985 DNA Cloning Vol. I and II, IRL Press, Oxford, UK; Hames and Higgins (Eds.) 1985 Nucleic Acid Hybridization, IRL Press, Oxford, UK; and Setlow and Hollaender 1979 Genetic Engineering: Principles and Methods, Vols. 1-4, Plenum Press, New York. Abbreviations and nomenclature, where employed, are deemed standard in the field and commonly used in professional journals such as those cited herein.

“Homologues” of a protein encompass peptides, oligopeptides, polypeptides, proteins and/or enzymes having amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions relative to the unmodified protein in question and having similar functional activity as the unmodified protein from which they are derived.

“Homologues” of a nucleic acid encompass nucleotides and/or polynucleotides having nucleic acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions relative to the unmodified nucleic acid in question, wherein the protein coded by such nucleic acids has similar or higher functional activity as the unmodified protein coded by the unmodified nucleic acid from which they are derived. In particular, homologues of a nucleic acid may encompass substitutions on the basis of the degenerative amino acid code.

A “deletion” refers to removal of one or more amino acids from a protein or to the removal of one or more nucleic acids from DNA, ssRNA and/or dsRNA.

An “insertion” refers to one or more amino acid residues or nucleic acid residues being introduced into a predetermined site in a protein or the nucleic acid.

A “substitution” refers to replacement of amino acids of the protein with other amino acids having similar properties (such as similar hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, antigenicity, propensity to form or break α-helical structures or beta-sheet structures).

On the nucleic acid level a substitution refers to a replacement of nucleic acid with other nucleic acids, wherein the protein coded by the modified nucleic acid has a similar function. In particular homologues of a nucleic acid encompass substitutions on the basis of the degenerative amino acid code.

Amino acid substitutions are typically of single residues, but may be clustered depending upon functional constraints placed upon the protein and may range from 1 to 10 amino acids; insertions or deletion will usually be of the order of about 1 to 10 amino acid residues. The amino acid substitutions are preferably conservative amino acid substitutions. Conservative substitution tables are well known in the art (see for example Creighton (1984) Proteins. W.H. Freeman and Company (Eds) and Table 1 below, or Taylor W. R. (1986) The classification of amino acid conservation J Theor Biol., 119:205-18).

TABLE 1 Examples of conserved amino acid substitutions Conservative Residue Substitutions Residue Conservative Substitutions Ala Ser Leu Ile; Val Arg Lys Lys Arg; Gln Asn Gln; His Met Leu; Ile Asp Glu Phe Met; Leu; Tyr Gln Asn Ser Thr; Gly Cys Ser Thr Ser; Val Glu Asp Trp Tyr Gly Pro Tyr Trp; Phe His Asn; Gln Val Ile; Leu Ile Leu, Val

Amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions may readily be made using peptide synthetic techniques well known in the art, such as solid phase peptide synthesis and the like, or by recombinant DNA manipulation.

Methods for the manipulation of DNA sequences to produce substitution, insertion or deletion variants of a protein are well known in the art. For example, techniques for making substitution mutations at predetermined sites in DNA are well known to those skilled in the art and include M13 mutagenesis, T7-Gene in vitro mutagenesis (USB, Cleveland, Ohio), QuickChange Site Directed mutagenesis (Stratagene, San Diego, Calif.), PCR-mediated site-directed mutagenesis or other site-directed mutagenesis protocols.

Orthologues and paralogues encompass evolutionary concepts used to describe the ancestral relationships of genes. Paralogues are genes within the same species that have originated through duplication of an ancestral gene; orthologues are genes from different organisms that have originated through speciation, and are also derived from a common ancestral gene.

The term “domain” refers to a set of amino acids conserved at specific positions along an alignment of sequences of evolutionarily related proteins. While amino acids at other positions can vary between homologues, amino acids that are highly conserved at specific positions indicate amino acids that are likely essential in the structure, stability or function of a protein.

Specialist databases exist for the identification of domains, for example, SMART (Schultz et al. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 5857-5864; Letunic et al. (2002) Nucleic Acids Res 30, 242-244), InterPro (Mulder et al., (2003) Nucl. Acids. Res. 31, 315-318), Prosite (Bucher and Bairoch (1994), A generalized profile syntax for biomolecular sequences motifs and its function in automatic sequence interpretation. (In) ISMB-94; Proceedings 2nd International Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology. Altman R., Brutlag D., Karp P., Lathrop R., Searls D., Eds., pp 53-61, AAAI Press, Menlo Park; Hulo et al., Nucl. Acids. Res. 32:D134-D137, (2004)), or Pfam (Bateman et al., Nucleic Acids Research 30(1): 276-280 (2002)). A set of tools for in silico analysis of protein sequences is available on the ExPASy proteomics server (Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (Gasteiger et al., ExPASy: the proteomics server for in-depth protein knowledge and analysis, Nucleic Acids Res. 31:3784-3788(2003)). Domains or motifs may also be identified using routine techniques, such as by sequence alignment.

Methods for the alignment of sequences for comparison are well known in the art, such methods include GAP, BESTFIT, BLAST, FASTA and TFASTA. GAP uses the algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch ((1970) J Mol Biol 48: 443-453) to find the global (i.e. spanning the complete sequences) alignment of two sequences that maximizes the number of matches and minimizes the number of gaps. The BLAST algorithm (Altschul et al. (1990) J Mol Biol 215: 403-10) calculates percent sequence identity or similarity or homology and performs a statistical analysis of the identity or similarity or homology between the two sequences. The software for performing BLAST analysis is publicly available through the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Homologues may readily be identified using, for example, the ClustalW multiple sequence alignment algorithm (version 1.83), with the default pairwise alignment parameters, and a scoring method in percentage. Global percentages of similarity/homology/identity may also be determined using one of the methods available in the MatGAT software package (Campanella et al., BMC Bioinformatics. 2003 Jul. 10; 4:29. MatGAT: an application that generates similarity/homology/identity matrices using protein or DNA sequences). Minor manual editing may be performed to optimise alignment between conserved motifs, as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Furthermore, instead of using full-length sequences for the identification of homologues, specific domains may also be used. The sequence identity values may be determined over the entire nucleic acid or amino acid sequence or over selected domains or conserved motif(s), using the programs mentioned above using the default parameters. For local alignments, the Smith-Waterman algorithm is particularly useful (Smith T F, Waterman M S (1981) J. Mol. Biol 147(1); 195-7).

A “signal sequence” is a short (3-60 amino acids long) peptide that directs the transport of a protein, preferably to other organelles within the cell or to certain subcellular locations or for the secretion of a protein. Signal sequences may also be called transit peptide, transit sequence, signal peptide, targeting signal, or localization signal.

A “secretion signal sequence” is particular type of signal sequence, which directs the transport of a protein to the outside of the protoplast or symplast.

The “protoplast” or “symplast” of a plant or a plant cell as understood herein is the inner space surrounded by the cellulare membrane. Thus, “protoplast” or “symplast” does not include the cellular membrane.

The “apoplast” of a plant is the space outside the cellular membrane.

The “cuticule” of a plant cell or plant organ, like leave or stem, is a protective, hydrophobic, waxy covering produced by the epidermal cells.

As used herein the terms “fungal-resistance”, “resistant to a fungus” and/or “fungal-resistant” mean reducing, preventing, or delaying an infection by fungi. The term “resistance” refers to fungal resistance. Resistance does not imply that the plant necessarily has 100% resistance to infection. In preferred embodiments, enhancing or increasing fungal resistance means that resistance in a resistant plant is greater than 10%, greater than 20%, greater than 30%, greater than 40%, greater than 50%, greater than 60%, greater than 70%, greater than 80%, greater than 90%, or greater than 95% in comparison to a wild type plant.

As used herein the terms “soybean rust-resistance”, “resistant to a soybean rust”, “soybean rust-resistant”, “rust-resistance”, “resistant to a rust”, or “rust-resistant” mean reducing or preventing or delaying an infection of a plant, plant part, or plant cell by Phacopsoracea, in particular Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur)—also known as soybean rust or Asian Soybean Rust (ASR), as compared to a wild type plant, wild type plant part, or wild type plant cell. Resistance does not imply that the plant necessarily has 100% resistance to infection. In preferred embodiments, enhancing or increasing rust resistance means that rust resistance in a resistant plant is greater than 10%, greater than 20%, greater than 30%, greater than 40%, greater than 50%, greater than 60%, greater than 70%, greater than 80%, greater than 90%, or greater than 95% in comparison to a wild type plant that is not resistant to soybean rust. Preferably the wild type plant is a plant of a similar, more preferably identical, genotype as the plant having increased resistance to the soybean rust, but does not comprise an exogenous hydrophobin nucleic acid, functional fragments thereof and/or an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing with an hydrophobin nucleic acid.

The level of fungal resistance of a plant can be determined in various ways, e.g. by scoring/measuring the infected leaf area in relation to the overall leaf area. Another possibility to determine the level of resistance is to count the number of soybean rust colonies on the plant or to measure the amount of spores produced by these colonies. Another way to resolve the degree of fungal infestation is to specifically measure the amount of rust DNA by quantitative (q) PCR. Specific probes and primer sequences for most fungal pathogens are available in the literature (Frederick R D, Snyder C L, Peterson G L, et al. 2002 Polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection and discrimination of the rust pathogens Phakopsora pachyrhizi and P. meibomiae, Phytopathology 92(2) 217-227).

The term “hybridization” as used herein includes “any process by which a strand of nucleic acid molecule joins with a complementary strand through base pairing” (J. Coombs (1994) Dictionary of Biotechnology, Stockton Press, New York). Hybridization and the strength of hybridization (i.e., the strength of the association between the nucleic acid molecules) is impacted by such factors as the degree of complementarity between the nucleic acid molecules, stringency of the conditions involved, the Tm of the formed hybrid, and the G:C ratio within the nucleic acid molecules.

As used herein, the term “Tm” is used in reference to the “melting temperature.” The melting temperature is the temperature at which a population of double-stranded nucleic acid molecules becomes half dissociated into single strands. The equation for calculating the Tm of nucleic acid molecules is well known in the art. As indicated by standard references, a simple estimate of the Tm value may be calculated by the equation: Tm=81.5+0.41 (% G+C), when a nucleic acid molecule is in aqueous solution at 1 M NaCl (see e.g., Anderson and Young, Quantitative Filter Hybridization, in Nucleic Acid Hybridization (1985). Other references include more sophisticated computations, which take structural as well as sequence characteristics into account for the calculation of Tm. Stringent conditions, are known to those skilled in the art and can be found in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6.

In particular, the term “stringency conditions” refers to conditions, wherein 100 contigous nucleotides or more, 150 contigous nucleotides or more, 200 contigous nucleotides or more or 250 contigous nucleotides or more which are a fragment or identical to the complementary nucleic acid molecule (DNA, RNA, ssDNA or ssRNA) hybridizes under conditions equivalent to hybridization in 7% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 0.5 M NaPO4, 1 mM EDTA at 50° C. with washing in 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50° C. or 65° C., preferably at 65° C., with a specific nucleic acid molecule (DNA; RNA, ssDNA or ss RNA). Preferably, the hybridizing conditions are equivalent to hybridization in 7% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 0.5 M NaPO4, 1 mM EDTA at 50° C. with washing in 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50° C. or 65° C., preferably 65° C., more preferably the hybridizing conditions are equivalent to hybridization in 7% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 0.5 M NaPO4, 1 mM EDTA at 50° C. with washing in 0,1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50° C. or 65° C., preferably 65° C. Preferably, the complementary nucleotides hybridize with a fragment or the whole hydrophobin nucleic acids. Preferably, the complementary polynucleotide hybridizes with parts of the hydrophobin nucleic acids capable to provide soybean rust resistance by overexpression or downregulation, respectively.

For example, typical high stringency hybridisation conditions for DNA hybrids longer than 50 nucleotides encompass hybridisation at 65° C. in 1×SSC or at 42° C. in 1×SSC and 50% formamide, followed by washing at 65° C. in 0.3×SSC. Examples of medium stringency hybridisation conditions for DNA hybrids longer than 50 nucleotides encompass hybridisation at 50° C. in 4×SSC or at 40° C. in 6×SSC and 50% formamide, followed by washing at 50° C. in 2×SSC.

“Identity” or “homology” or “similarity” between two nucleic acids sequences or amino acid sequences refers in each case over the entire length of the hydrophobin nucleic acid sequences or hydrophobin amino acid sequences. The terms “identity”, “homology” and “similarity” are used herein interchangeably.

For example the identity may be calculated by means of the Vector NTI Suite 7.1 program of the company Informax (USA) employing the Clustal Method (Higgins D G, Sharp P M. Fast and sensitive multiple sequence alignments on a microcomputer. Comput Appl. Biosci. 1989 April; 5(2):151-1) with the following settings:

Multiple alignment parameter:

Gap opening penalty 10 Gap extension penalty 10 Gap separation penalty range 8 Gap separation penalty off % identity for alignment delay 40 Residue specific gaps off Hydrophilic residue gap off Transition weighing 0

Pairwise alignment parameter:

FAST algorithm on K-tuple size 1 Gap penalty 3 Window size 5 Number of best diagonals 5

Alternatively the identity may be determined according to Chenna, Ramu, Sugawara, Hideaki, Koike, Tadashi, Lopez, Rodrigo, Gibson, Toby J, Higgins, Desmond G, Thompson, Julie D. Multiple sequence alignment with the Clustal series of programs. (2003) Nucleic Acids Res 31 (13):3497-500, the web page: ebi.ac.uk/Tools/clustalw/index.html# and the following settings

DNA Gap Open Penalty 15.0 DNA Gap Extension Penalty 6.66 DNA Matrix Identity Protein Gap Open Penalty 10.0 Protein Gap Extension Penalty 0.2 Protein matrix Gonnet Protein/DNA ENDGAP −1 Protein/DNA GAPDIST 4

All the nucleic acid sequences mentioned herein (single-stranded and double-stranded DNA and RNA sequences, for example cDNA and mRNA) can be produced in a known way by chemical synthesis from the nucleotide building blocks, e.g. by fragment condensation of individual overlapping, complementary nucleic acid building blocks of the double helix. Chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides can, for example, be performed in a known way, by the phosphoamidite method (Voet, Voet, 2nd edition, Wiley Press, New York, pages 896-897). The accumulation of synthetic oligonucleotides and filling of gaps by means of the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase and ligation reactions as well as general cloning techniques are described in Sambrook et al. (1989), see below.

Sequence identity between the nucleic acid or protein useful according to the present invention and the hydrophobin nucleic acids or hydrophobin proteins may be optimized by sequence comparison and alignment algorithms known in the art (see Gribskov and Devereux, Sequence Analysis Primer, Stockton Press, 1991, and references cited therein) and calculating the percent difference between the nucleotide or protein sequences by, for example, the Smith-Waterman algorithm as implemented in the BESTFIT software program using default parameters (e.g., University of Wisconsin Genetic Computing Group).

The term “plant” is intended to encompass plants at any stage of maturity or development, as well as any tissues or organs (plant parts) taken or derived from any such plant unless otherwise clearly indicated by context. Plant parts include, but are not limited to, plant cells, stems, roots, flowers, ovules, stamens, seeds, leaves, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, anther cultures, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, microspores, protoplasts, hairy root cultures, and/or the like. The present invention also includes seeds produced by the plants of the present invention. Preferably, the seeds comprise the exogenous hydrophobin nucleic acids. In one embodiment, the seeds can develop into plants with increased resistance to fungal infection as compared to a wild-type variety of the plant seed. As used herein, a “plant cell” includes, but is not limited to, a protoplast, gamete producing cell, and a cell that regenerates into a whole plant. Tissue culture of various tissues of plants and regeneration of plants therefrom is well known in the art and is widely published.

Reference herein to an “endogenous” nucleic acid and/or protein refers to the nucleic acid and/or protein in question as found in a plant in its natural form (i.e., without there being any human intervention).

The term “exogenous” nucleic acid refers to a nucleic acid that has been introduced in a plant by means of genetechnology. An “exogenous” nucleic acid can either not occur in a plant in its natural form, be different from the nucleic acid in question as found in a plant in its natural form, or can be identical to a nucleic acid found in a plant in its natural form, but integrated not within their natural genetic environment. The corresponding meaning of “exogenous” is applied in the context of protein expression. For example, a transgenic plant containing a transgene, i.e., an exogenous nucleic acid, may, when compared to the expression of the endogenous gene, encounter a substantial increase of the expression of the respective gene or protein in total. A transgenic plant according to the present invention includes an exogenous hydrophobin nucleic acid integrated at any genetic loci and optionally the plant may also include the endogenous gene within the natural genetic background.

For the purposes of the invention, “recombinant” means with regard to, for example, a nucleic acid sequence, a nucleic acid molecule, an expression cassette or a vector construct comprising any one or more hydrophobin nucleic acids, all those constructions brought about by man by gentechnological methods in which either

-   (a) the sequences of the hydrophobin nucleic acids or a part     thereof, or -   (b) genetic control sequence(s) which is operably linked with the     hydrophobin nucleic acid sequence according to the invention, for     example a promoter, or -   (c) a) and b)     are not located in their natural genetic environment or have been     modified by man by gentechnological methods. The modification may     take the form of, for example, a substitution, addition, deletion,     inversion or insertion of one or more nucleotide residues. The     natural genetic environment is understood as meaning the natural     genomic or chromosomal locus in the original plant or the presence     in a genomic library or the combination with the natural promoter.

A recombinant nucleic acid may also refer to a nucleic acid in an isolated form. A recombinant nucleic acid, expression cassette or vector construct preferably comprises a natural gene and a natural promoter, a natural gene and a non-natural promoter, a non-natural gene and a natural promoter, or a non-natural gene and a non-natural promoter.

In the case of a genomic library, the natural genetic environment of the nucleic acid sequence is preferably retained, at least in part. The environment flanks the nucleic acid sequence at least on one side and has a sequence length of at least 50 bp, preferably at least 500 bp, especially preferably at least 1000 bp, most preferably at least 5000 bp.

A naturally occurring expression cassette—for example the naturally occurring combination of the natural promoter of the nucleic acid sequences with the corresponding nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein useful in the methods of the present invention, as described above—becomes a recombinant expression cassette when this expression cassette is modified by man by non-natural, synthetic (“artificial”) methods such as, for example, mutagenic treatment. Suitable methods are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,350, WO 00/15815 or US200405323. Furthermore, a naturally occurring expression cassette—for example the naturally occurring combination of the natural promoter of the nucleic acid sequences with the corresponding nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein useful in the methods of the present invention, as described above—becomes a recombinant expression cassette when this expression cassette is not integrated in the natural genetic environment but in a different genetic environment.

It shall further be noted that in the context of the present invention, the term “isolated nucleic acid” or “isolated protein” may in some instances be considered as a synonym for a “recombinant nucleic acid” or a “recombinant protein”, respectively and refers to a nucleic acid or protein that is not located in its natural genetic environment and/or that has been modified by genetechnical methods. The isolated gene may be isolated from an organism or may be manmade, for example by chemical synthesis.

As used herein, the term “transgenic” refers to an organism, e.g., a plant, plant cell, callus, plant tissue, or plant part that exogenously contains the nucleic acid, recombinant construct, vector or expression cassette described herein or a part thereof which is preferably introduced by non-essentially biological processes, preferably by Agrobacteria transformation. The recombinant construct or a part thereof is stably integrated into a chromosome, so that it is passed on to successive generations by clonal propagation, vegetative propagation or sexual propagation. Preferred successive generations are transgenic too. Essentially biological processes may be crossing of plants and/or natural recombination.

A transgenic plant, plants cell or tissue for the purposes of the invention is thus understood as meaning that an exogenous hydrophobin nucleic acid, recombinant construct, vector or expression cassette including one or more hydrophobin nucleic acids is integrated into the genome by means of genetechnology.

Preferably, constructs or vectors or expression cassettes are not present in the genome of the original plant or are present in the genome of the transgenic plant not at their natural locus of the genome of the original plant.

A “wild type” plant, “wild type” plant part, or “wild type” plant cell means that said plant, plant part, or plant cell does not express exogenous hydrophobin nucleic acid or exogenous hydrophobin protein.

Natural locus means the location on a specific chromosome, preferably the location between certain genes, more preferably the same sequence background as in the original plant which is transformed.

Preferably, the transgenic plant, plant cell or tissue thereof expresses the hydrophobin nucleic acids, hydrophobin constructs or hydrophobin expression cassettes described herein.

The term “expression” or “gene expression” means the transcription of a specific gene or specific genes or specific genetic vector construct. The term “expression” or “gene expression” in particular means the transcription of a gene or genes or genetic vector construct into structural RNA (rRNA, tRNA), or mRNA with or without subsequent translation of the latter into a protein. The process includes transcription of DNA and processing of the resulting RNA product. The term “expression” or “gene expression” can also include the translation of the mRNA and therewith the synthesis of the encoded protein, i.e., protein expression.

The term “increased expression” or “enhanced expression” or “overexpression” or “increase of content” as used herein means any form of expression that is additional to the original wild-type expression level. For the purposes of this invention, the original wild-type expression level might also be zero (absence of expression). Absence of expression in the wild-type or control plant might be due to the absence of the respective coding sequence.

Methods for increasing expression of genes or gene products are well documented in the art and include, for example, overexpression driven by appropriate promoters, the use of transcription enhancers or translation enhancers. Isolated nucleic acids which serve as promoter or enhancer elements may be introduced in an appropriate position (typically upstream) of a non-heterologous form of a polynucleotide so as to upregulate expression of a nucleic acid encoding the protein of interest. For example, endogenous promoters may be altered in vivo by mutation, deletion, and/or substitution (see, Kmiec, U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,350; Zarling et al., WO9322443), or isolated promoters may be introduced into a plant cell in the proper orientation and distance from a gene of the present invention so as to control the expression of the gene.

If protein expression is desired, it is generally desirable to include a polyadenylation region at the 3′-end of a polynucleotide coding region. The polyadenylation region can be derived from the natural gene, from a variety of other plant genes, or from T-DNA. The 3′ end sequence to be added may be derived from, for example, the nopaline synthase or octopine synthase genes, or alternatively from another plant gene, or less preferably from any other eukaryotic gene.

An intron sequence may also be added to the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) and/or the coding sequence of the partial coding sequence to increase the amount of the mature message that accumulates in the cytosol. Inclusion of a spliceable intron in the transcription unit in both plant and animal expression constructs has been shown to increase gene expression at both the mRNA and protein levels up to 1000-fold (Buchman and Berg (1988) Mol. Cell biol. 8: 4395-4405; Callis et al. (1987) Genes Dev 1:1183-1200). Such intron enhancement of gene expression is typically greatest when placed near the 5′ end of the transcription unit. Use of the maize introns Adh1-5 intron 1, 2, and 6, the Bronze-1 intron are known in the art. For general information see: The Maize Handbook, Chapter 116, Freeling and Walbot, Eds., Springer, N.Y. (1994).

The term “functional fragment” refers to any nucleic acid or protein which comprises merely a part of the fulllength nucleic acid or fulllength protein, respectively, but still provides the same function, e.g., fungal resistance, when expressed or repressed in a plant, respectively. Preferably, the fragment comprises at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% of the original sequence. Preferably, the functional fragment comprises contiguous nucleic acids or amino acids as in the original nucleic acid or original protein, respectively. In one embodiment the fragment of any of the hydrophobin nucleic acids has an identity as defined above over a length of at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 50%, at least 75%, at least 90% of the nucleotides of the respective hydrophobin nucleic acid.

In cases where overexpression of nucleic acid is desired, the term “similar functional activity” or “similar function” means that any homologue and/or fragment provide fungal resistance when expressed in a plant. Preferably similar functional activity means at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% or higher fungal resistance compared with functional activity provided by the exogenous expression of the hydrophobin nucleotide sequence as defined by SEQ ID NO: 1 or the hydrophobin protein sequence as defined by SEQ ID NO: 2.

The term “increased activity” or “enhanced activity” as used herein means any protein having increased activity and which provides an increased fungal resistance compared with the wildtype plant merely expressing the respective endogenous hydrophobin nucleic acid. As far as overexpression is concerned, for the purposes of this invention, the original wild-type expression level might also be zero (absence of expression).

With respect to a vector construct and/or the recombinant nucleic acid molecules, the term “operatively linked” is intended to mean that the nucleic acid to be expressed is linked to the regulatory sequence, including promoters, terminators, enhancers and/or other expression control elements (e.g., polyadenylation signals), in a manner which allows for expression of the nucleic acid (e.g., in a host plant cell when the vector is introduced into the host plant cell). Such regulatory sequences are described, for example, in Goeddel, Gene Expression Technology: Methods in Enzymology 185, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990) and Gruber and Crosby, in: Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Eds. Glick and Thompson, Chapter 7, 89-108, CRC Press: Boca Raton, Fla., including the references therein. Regulatory sequences include those that direct constitutive expression of a nucleotide sequence in many types of host cells and those that direct expression of the nucleotide sequence only in certain host cells or under certain conditions. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the design of the vector can depend on such factors as the choice of the host cell to be transformed, the level of expression of nucleic acid desired, and the like.

The term “introduction” or “transformation” as referred to herein encompass the transfer of an exogenous polynucleotide into a host cell, irrespective of the method used for transfer. Plant tissue capable of subsequent clonal propagation, whether by organogenesis or embryogenesis, may be transformed with a vector construct of the present invention and a whole plant regenerated there from. The particular tissue chosen will vary depending on the clonal propagation systems available for, and best suited to, the particular species being transformed. Exemplary tissue targets include leaf disks, pollen, embryos, cotyledons, hypocotyls, megagametophytes, callus tissue, existing meristematic tissue (e.g., apical meristem, axillary buds, and root meristems), and induced meristem tissue (e.g., cotyledon meristem and hypocotyl meristem). The polynucleotide may be transiently or stably introduced into a host cell and may be maintained non-integrated, for example, as a plasmid. Alternatively, it may be integrated into the host genome. The host genome includes the nucleic acid contained in the nucleus as well as the nucleic acid contained in the plastids, e.g., chloroplasts, and/or mitochondria. The resulting transformed plant cell may then be used to regenerate a transformed plant in a manner known to persons skilled in the art.

The term “terminator” encompasses a control sequence which is a DNA sequence at the end of a transcriptional unit which signals 3′ processing and polyadenylation of a primary transcript and termination of transcription. The terminator can be derived from the natural gene, from a variety of other plant genes, or from T-DNA. The terminator to be added may be derived from, for example, the nopaline synthase or octopine synthase genes, or alternatively from another plant gene, or less preferably from any other eukaryotic gene.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention shows that increasing expression in a plant of a hydrophobin nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin polypeptide gives plants having enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants.

Hydrophobin Nucleic Acids

Thus, a hydrophobin nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein is an embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the hydrophobin nucleic acid encodes a class I or a class II hydrophobin, preferably, a hydrophobin selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobin from Aspergillus nidulans (e.g., dewA; nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1), rodA (nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3), hypA (nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5), hypB (nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 7), sc3 (nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 9), basf1 (nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 11), basf2 (nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 13), hydrophobin SC3 (nucleic acid sequence encoding an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 43 or 44), hydrophobin HFBII (nucleic acid sequence encoding an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 45 or 46), hydrophobin Gm (nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 41), hydrophobin TT1 (nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 89), and hydrophobin HFPI (nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 90) or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof.

Preferably the hydrophobin nucleic acid is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at     least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%,     at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least     74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at     least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%,     at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least     88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at     least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%,     at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the nucleic     acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39,     41, 55-62, 89, or 90, or a functional fragment, derivative,     orthologue, or paralogue thereof; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least     62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at     least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%,     at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least     76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at     least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%,     at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ     ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, or     a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof;     preferably the hydrophobin polypeptide confers enhanced fungal     resistance relative to control plants; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions, and which preferably encodes a hydrophobin protein that     has essentially the same biological activity as an hydrophobin     protein encoded by SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43,     44, 45, 46, 87, or 88; preferably the encoded hydrophobin protein     confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same hydrophobin protein as the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the nucleic     acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic     code.

More preferably, the isolated hydrophobin nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     at least 100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89,     or 90; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, 4,     6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, preferably the     hydrophobin polypeptide confers enhanced fungal resistance relative     to control plants; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions, and which preferably encodes a hydrophobin protein that     has essentially the same biological activity as an hydrophobin     protein encoded by SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43,     44, 45, 46, 87, or 88; preferably the encoded hydrophobin protein     confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same hydrophobin protein as the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the nucleic     acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic     code.

More preferably, the hydrophobin nucleic acid is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at     least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%,     at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least     74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at     least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%,     at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least     88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at     least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%,     at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the nucleic     acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a functional fragment,     derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least     62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at     least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%,     at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least     76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at     least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%,     at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ     ID NO: 2, or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or     paralogue thereof; preferably the hydrophobin polypeptide confers     enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions, and which preferably encodes a hydrophobin protein that     has essentially the same biological activity as an hydrophobin     protein encoded by SEQ ID NO: 2; preferably the encoded hydrophobin     protein confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to control     plants; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same hydrophobin protein as the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the nucleic     acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic     code.

More preferably, the isolated hydrophobin nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     at least 100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2,     preferably the hydrophobin polypeptide confers enhanced fungal     resistance relative to control plants; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions, and which preferably encodes a hydrophobin protein that     has essentially the same biological activity as an hydrophobin     protein encoded by SEQ ID NO: 2; preferably the encoded hydrophobin     protein confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to control     plants; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same hydrophobin protein as the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the nucleic     acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic     code.

Percentages of identity of a nucleic acid are indicated with reference to the entire nucleotide region given in a sequence specifically disclosed herein.

Preferably, the hydrophobin nucleic acid comprises at least about 250, at least about 275, at least about 300, at least about 350, at least about 375, at least about 380, at least about 390, at least about 400, at least about 410, at least about 420, at least about 430, at least about 440, at least about 450 nucleotides, at least about 460, at least about 470 nucleotides, preferably continuous nucleotides, preferably counted from the 5′ or 3′ end of the nucleic acid, or up to the full length of the nucleic acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90, preferably of the nucleic acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 1. Preferably, a hydrophobin nucleic acid fragment has substantially the same biological activity as the nucleic acid sequence given in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90, preferably, as SEQ ID NO: 1.

Preferably, the isolated hydrophobin nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence as represented in SEQ ID SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90, a complement thereof, a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, or a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with anyone of these nucleic acid molecules or a complementary sequence (complement) thereof under high stringency hybridization conditions.

Most preferably, the isolated hydrophobin nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 1, a complement thereof, a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein with SEQ ID NO: 2, or a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with anyone of these nucleic acid molecules or a complementary sequence (complement) thereof under high stringency hybridization conditions.

Hydrophobin Proteins

Another embodiment of the present invention is a hydrophobin protein.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the hydrophobin protein is a class I or class II hydrophobin, preferably, a hydrophobin protein selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobin from Aspergillus nidulans (e.g., dewA; amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2), rodA (amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4), hypA (amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 6), hypB (amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 8), sc3 (amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 10), basf1 (amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 12), basf2 (amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 14), hydrophobin SC3 (amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 43 or 44), hydrophobin HFBII (amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 45 or 46), hydrophobin Gm (amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 42), hydrophobin TT1 (amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 87), and hydrophobin HFPI (amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 88) or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof.

Preferably, the hydrophobin protein is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least     64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at     least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%,     at least 74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least     78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at     least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%,     at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to     the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,     12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, or a functional fragment,     derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably the     hydrophobin protein confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to     control plants; or -   (ii) amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least     62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at     least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%,     at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least     76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at     least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%,     at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by     SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90, or a     functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof;     preferably the hydrophobin protein confers enhanced fungal     resistance relative to control plants.

Preferably, the hydrophobin protein of the present invention is characterized by its property to enlarge at room temperature the contact angle of a drop of water on a glass surface coated with the hydrophobin protein to at least 20°, preferably at least 25°, more preferably at least 30°, compared to the contact angle of the drop of water on the glass surface not coated with the hydrophobin protein.

Preferably, the hydrophobin protein is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least     94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at     least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid     sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42,     43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, or a functional fragment, derivative,     orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably the hydrophobin protein     confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; or -   (ii) amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1,     3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90, or a functional     fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably     the hydrophobin protein confers enhanced fungal resistance relative     to control plants.

Preferably, the hydrophobin protein is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%,     72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%,     85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%,     98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, or a functional fragment, derivative,     orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably the hydrophobin protein     confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; or -   (ii) amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%,     65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%,     78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%,     91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1,     or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue     thereof; preferably the hydrophobin protein confers enhanced fungal     resistance relative to control plants.

Preferably, the hydrophobin protein is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least     94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at     least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid     sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, or a functional fragment,     derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably the     hydrophobin protein confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to     control plants; or -   (ii) amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1,     or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue     thereof; preferably the hydrophobin protein confers enhanced fungal     resistance relative to control plants.

Percentages of identity of an amino acid sequence or protein are indicated with reference to the entire amino acid sequence specifically disclosed herein.

Preferably, the hydrophobin protein comprises at least about 50, at least about 60, at least about 70, at least about 80, at least about 90, at least about 100, at least about 110, at least about 120, at least about 125, at least about 130, at least about 135, at least about 140, at least about 145, at least about 150, at least about 155 amino acid residues, preferably continuous amino acid residues, preferably counted from the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the amino acid sequence, or up to the full length of the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, preferably of the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2. Preferably, a hydrophobin protein fragment has substantially the same biological activity as the amino acid sequence given in SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, preferably, as SEQ ID NO: 2.

Preferably, the isolated hydrophobin protein comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, or is encoded by a nucleic acid with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90.

Preferably, the isolated hydrophobin protein comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 2, or is encoded by a nucleic acid with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Nucleic Acids Coding for a Hydrophobin Fusion Protein and Hydrophobin Fusion Proteins

Another embodiment of the present invention is a nucleic acid coding for a hydrophobin fusion protein, i.e., a hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid. A further embodiment of the present invention is also a hydrophobin fusion protein.

A hydrophobin fusion protein can comprise one or more of the following elements:

a) signal sequence, b) fusion partner polypeptide, c) hydrophobin protein, d) linker sequences, and e) purification sequence. Preferably, the fusion protein comprises one or more (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) of the selected element, e.g., two fusion partner polypeptides.

Thus, the hydrophobin protein can be comprised in a hydrophobin fusion protein together with one or more of the following elements:

a) signal sequence, b) fusion partner polypeptide, c) linker sequences, and d) purification sequence.

In one embodiment, the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises a fusion partner and a hydrophobin protein. Optionally, the hydrophobin fusion protein further comprises a signal sequence, preferably a secretion signal sequence, and optionally a linker sequence and optionally a purification sequence.

In one embodiment, the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises a secretion signal sequence and a hydrophobin protein. Optionally, the hydrophobin fusion protein further comprises a fusion partner and optionally a linker sequence and optionally a purification sequence.

Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises a secretion signal sequence, a fusion partner, and a hydrophobin protein. Optionally, the hydrophobin fusion protein further comprises a linker sequence and optionally a purification sequence.

Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises a secretion signal sequence, a fusion partner, a linker sequence and a hydrophobin protein. Optionally, the hydrophobin fusion protein further comprises a purification sequence.

Signal Sequence

Preferably, the fusion protein comprises a signal sequence. A signal sequence is a short (3-60 amino acids long) peptide that directs the transport of a protein, preferably to other organelles within the cell or to certain subcellular locations or for the secretion of a protein.

The signal sequence encoded by the signal sequence nucleic acid is preferably about 5, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, or more amino acids long. Preferably the signal sequence is cleaved from the rest of the fusion protein, preferably by a signal peptidase, after the protein is transported. In another embodiment, the signal sequence is not cleaved from the rest of the fusion protein after the protein is transported.

Preferably, the signal sequence directs the transport of the protein to other organelles within the cell. Preferably, the signal sequence targets the hydrophobin peptide to the nucleus, mitochondria, mitochondrial matrix, endoplasmic reticulum, plastid, chloroplast, apicoplast, chromoplast, cyanelle, thylakoid, amyloplast, peroxisome, glyoxysome, and/or hydrogenosome. Preferably, the signal sequence directs the transport of the protein to the inclusion bodies of a prokaryotic cell like E. coli.

Most preferably, the signal sequence is a secretion signal sequence. Preferably, the secretion signal sequence directs the transport of a hydrophobin protein or hydrophobin fusion protein to the outside of the protoplast or symplast. More preferably, the secretion signal sequence directs the transport of a hydrophobin protein into the apoplast, preferably into or onto the cell wall. In one embodiment the secretion signal sequence directs the transport of a hydrophobin protein into or onto the cellular membrane. In another embodiment the secretion signal sequence directs the transport of a hydrophobin protein to the cell surface, preferably the outer surface of the cellular membrane. Most preferably, the secretion signal sequence directs the transport of a hydrophobin protein to the leave or stem surface, preferably into or onto the cuticle.

Preferably, the secretion signal sequence comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 24, or a functional fragment, derivative,     orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably the secretion signal     sequence directs transport of the hydrophobin protein outside of the     protoplast or symplast; or -   (ii) amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 70%, at least     80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at     least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%,     at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the     nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 23, or a functional     fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably     the secretion signal sequence directs transport of the hydrophobin     protein outside of the protoplast or symplast.

Preferably, the hydrophobin protein comprises at least about 10, at least about 11, at least about 12, at least about 13, at least about 14, at least about 15, at least about 16, at least about 17, at least about 18, at least about 19 amino acid residues, preferably continuous amino acid residues, preferably counted from the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the amino acid sequence, or up to the full length of the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 24. Preferably, a secretion signal sequence fragment has substantially the same biological activity as the amino acid sequence given in SEQ ID NO: 24.

Preferably, the secretion signal sequence comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 24.

Preferably, a nucleic acid encoding a secretion signal sequence is a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at     least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%,     at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 23, -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 70%, at least     80%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at     least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%,     at least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid     sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 24, preferably the secretion     signal sequence directs transport of the hydrophobin protein outside     of the protoplast or symplast; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same secretion signal sequence as     the nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the     genetic code.

Preferably, the nucleic acid encoding a secretion signal sequence comprises at least about 20, at least about 30, at least about 40, at least about 50, at least about 55, nucleotides, preferably continuous nucleotides, preferably counted from the 5′ or 3′ end of the nucleic acid or up to the full length of the nucleic acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 23. Preferably, fragment of a nucleic acid encoding a secretion signal sequence has substantially the same biological activity as the nucleic acid sequence given in SEQ ID NO: 23.

Preferably, the nucleic acid encoding a secretion signal sequence comprises or consists of a sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 23.

Preferably, the signal sequence comprises an amino acid sequence as displayed by the additional amino acid residues of version 2 of HFBII or SC3 as shown in FIG. 4 (compared to version 1 of the respective amino acid sequence).

Alternative suitable signal sequences are known to the person skilled in the art and can be found, for instance, in Khar Heng Choo, Tin Wee Tan and Shoba Ranganathan (2005) SPdb—a signal peptide database. BMC Bioinformatics 2005, 6:249 doi:10.1186/1471-2105-6-249 and proline.bic.nus.edu.sg/spdb/.

Fusion Partner Polypeptides

Preferably, the hydrophobin protein of the hydrophobin fusion protein is linked to a polypeptide sequence with at least 10, at least 20, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 300 amino acid residues not naturally linked to the hydrophobin protein (herein called “fusion partner polypeptide”).

Preferably, the fusion partner polypeptide is linked to the C-terminus and/or the N-terminus of the hydrophobin protein, preferably, to the N-terminus. Linkage of the fusion partner to the hydrophobin can be directly via a peptide bond or via a linker sequence, preferably a linker peptide. Preferably, the fusion protein comprises one or more, preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, fusion partner polypeptides.

Preferred fusion partner polypeptides comprised in the hydrophobin fusion protein are selected from the group of the synthase subunit Pdx1 (yaad) of Plp synthase from Bacillus subitilis (coding nucleic acid sequence: SEQ ID NO: 17 and amino acid sequence: 18), yaae (coding nucleic acid sequence: SEQ ID NO: 19 and amino acid sequence: 20), thioredoxin, preferably thioredoxin from Escherichia coli (coding nucleic acid sequence: SEQ ID NO: 21 and amino acid sequence: 22) or Homo sapiens (cf. SEQ ID NO: 54), and ubiquitin (e.g from Homo sapiens as set out in SEQ ID NO: 53), or a fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof.

Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid encodes a hydrophobin protein, preferably a class I hydrophobin, more preferably, a hydrophobin selected from the group consisting of dewA (SEQ ID NO: 2), rodA (SEQ ID NO: 4), hypA (SEQ ID NO: 6), hypB (SEQ ID NO: 8), sc3 (SEQ ID NO: 10), basf1 (SEQ ID NO: 12), basf2 (SEQ ID NO: 14), hydrophobin SC3 (SEQ ID NO: 43 or 44), hydrophobin HFBII (SEQ ID NO: 45 or 46), hydrophobin Gm (SEQ ID NO: 42), hydrophobin TT1 (SEQ ID NO: 87), and hydrophobin HFPI (SEQ ID NO: 88) or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof, fused to a fusion partner polypeptide selected from the group consisting of yaad (SEQ ID NO: 18), yaae (SEQ ID NO: 20), thioredoxin, preferably thioredoxin from Escherichia coli (SEQ ID NO: 22) or Homo sapiens (SEQ ID NO: 54), and ubiquitin (SEQ ID NO: 53) or a fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof. Preferred is a hydrophobin fusion protein comprising a hydrophobin from Aspergillus nidulans (e.g., dewA, SEQ ID NO: 2) and a fusion partner polypeptide selected from the group consisting of yaad (SEQ ID NO: 18), yaae (SEQ ID NO: 20), thioredoxin, preferably thioredoxin from Escherichia coli (SEQ ID NO: 22) or Homo sapiens (SEQ ID NO: 54), and ubiquitin (SEQ ID NO: 53), or a fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof, preferably a hydrophobin fusion protein comprising dewA (SEQ ID NO: 2) and yaad (SEQ ID NO: 18), or a fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof. Preferred fragments of yaad are the first N-terminal 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40, or 40-45 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 18. Most preferred is a fragment of yaad as represented by SEQ ID NO: 16.

Preferably, the fusion partner polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at     least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%,     at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 15,     17, 19 or 21; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a fusion partner polypeptide having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 70%, at least     80%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at     least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%,     at least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid     sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 16, 18, 20, 22, 53, or 54; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same fusion partner polypeptide as     the nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the     genetic code.

Preferably, the fusion partner polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at     least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%,     at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 17; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a fusion partner polypeptide having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 70%, at least     80%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at     least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%,     at least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid     sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 18; and -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions.

Preferably, the fusion partner polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at     least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%,     at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 15; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a fusion partner polypeptide having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 70%, at least     80%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at     least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%,     at least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid     sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 16; and -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same fusion partner polypeptide as     the nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the     genetic code.

Preferably, the fusion partner polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     at least 100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 15, 17, 19 or 21; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a fusion partner polypeptide having in     increasing order of preference at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 16,     18, 20, 22, 53, or 54; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same fusion partner polypeptide as     the nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the     genetic code.

Preferably, the fusion partner polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     at least 100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 15; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a fusion partner polypeptide having in     increasing order of preference at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 16; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same fusion partner polypeptide as     the nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the     genetic code.

Preferred fragments of the fusion partner polypeptide, preferably of yaad, yaae, thioredoxin or thioredoxin, are at least 10, at least 20, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 60, or at least 70 of the first N-terminal amino acids or of the last C-terminal amino acids. Preferred are the first 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, or 320 N-terminal amino acids or the last 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, or 320 C-terminal amino acids of yaad, yaae, thioredoxin, or ubiquitin. Preferred fragments of yaad, yaae, thioredoxin or ubiquitin are the first N-terminal or the last C-terminal 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40, 40-45, 45-50, 50-55, 55-60, 60-65, 65-70, 70-75, 75-80, 80-85, 85-90, 90-95, or 95-100 amino acids of yaad, yaae, thioredoxin, or ubiquitin.

Preferred fragments of the fusion partner polypeptide are at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, or at least 40 of the first N-terminal amino acids or the first 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 19, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 N-terminal amino acids of yaad, yaae, or thioredoxin. Preferred fragments of yaad, yaae, thioredoxin, or ubiquitin are the first N-terminal 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40, or 40-45 amino acids of yaad, yaae, thioredoxin or ubiquitin.

Preferred fragments of the fusion partner polypeptide are at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, or at least 40 of the first N-terminal amino acids or the first 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 19, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 N-terminal amino acids of yaad. Preferred fragments of yaad are the first N-terminal 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40, or 40-45 amino acids of yaad.

A preferred fusion partner polypeptide is yaad (SEQ ID NO: 18). Preferred fragments of SEQ ID NO: 18 are at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, or at least 40 of the first N-terminal amino acids or the first 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 19, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 N-terminal amino acids of the SEQ ID NO: 18. Preferred fragments of yaad are the first N-terminal 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40, or 40-45 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 18. Most preferred are the first 39 amino acids of the synthase subunit Pdx1 (yaad) from Bacillus subitilis as represented by SEQ ID NO: 16.

Another embodiment of the present invention is the corresponding coding sequence of one of the above mentioned preferred fragments of the fusion partner polypeptides.

Linker Sequence

The different elements of the hydrophobin fusion protein can be directly linked via a peptide bond or can be connected via a linker sequence. Thus, the hydrophobin fusion protein preferably comprises one or more linker sequences. The linker sequence is preferably a peptide of one or more, preferably, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 amino acids. The linker sequence links two polypeptide elements of the hydrophobin fusion protein via a peptide bond at its C-terminus and its N-terminus. Preferably, the linker sequence is linked via peptide bonds between the hydrophobin protein and the signal sequence and/or between the fusion partner and the hydrophobin protein. Preferably, the linker sequence is a protease cleavage site. Preferably, the linker sequence is the recognition site for factor Xa protease. Preferably, the recognition site for factor Xa protease has the amino acid sequence isoleucine, glutamic acid, glycine, arginine (given in one letter code: IEGR).

Preferably, the fusion partner is linked to the C-terminus or the N-terminus of the hydrophobin protein, preferably, the N-terminus, via a linker sequence, preferably with the linker sequence being the recognition site for factor Xa protease, preferably, having the amino acid sequence IEGR.

Purification Sequence

Preferably, the fusion protein comprises a purification sequence. The purification sequence is preferably a peptide of one or more, preferably, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 amino acids, and facilitates the purification of the hydrophobin fusion protein from its cellular context. Various purification sequences are known in the art and can be for instance a histidine (His) tag, a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) tag, a streptavidin (strep) tag, a thioredoxin tag, a maltose binding protein (MBP) tag, HA tag or a FLAG tag. Preferably, the purification sequence is a His-tag, preferably the His-tag has the sequence GSHHHHHH (cf. SEQ ID NO: 26 and the coding sequence SEQ ID NO: 27).

Hydrophobin Fusion Protein Nucleic Acids

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid, which encodes a hydrophobin fusion protein.

Preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at     least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%,     at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least     74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at     least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%,     at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least     88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at     least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%,     at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the nucleic     acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33,     35, 47, 49, 51, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, or 85, or a     functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least     62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at     least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%,     at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least     76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at     least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%,     at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ     ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 48, 50, 52, 72, 74, 76, 78,     80, 82, 84, or 86, or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue,     or paralogue thereof; preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein     confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same hydrophobin fusion protein as     the nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the     genetic code.

Preferably the hydrophobin nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at     least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%,     at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least     74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at     least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%,     at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least     88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at     least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%,     at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the nucleic     acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 27, or a functional     fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least     62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at     least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%,     at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least     76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at     least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%,     at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ     ID NO: 28, or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or     paralogue thereof; preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein confers     enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same hydrophobin fusion protein as     the nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the     genetic code.

Preferably the hydrophobin nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at     least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%,     at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least     74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at     least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%,     at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least     88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at     least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%,     at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the nucleic     acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 29, or a functional     fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least     62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at     least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%,     at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least     76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at     least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%,     at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ     ID NO: 30, or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or     paralogue thereof; preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein confers     enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same hydrophobin fusion protein as     the nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the     genetic code.

SEQ ID NO: 29 shows the coding sequence of a hydrophobin fusion protein comprising a secretion signal sequence, a part of synthase subunit Pdx1 (Yaad) from Bacillus subtilis, factor Xa protease recognition site, hydrophobin from Aspergillus nidulans, and a His-tag.

SEQ ID NO: 30 shows the amino acid sequence of a hydrophobin fusion protein comprising a secretion signal sequence, a part of synthase subunit Pdx1 (Yaad) from Bacillus subtilis, factor Xa protease recognition site, hydrophobin from Aspergillus nidulans, and a His-tag.

SEQ ID NO: 27 shows the coding sequence of a hydrophobin fusion protein comprising a secretion signal sequence, a part of synthase subunit Pdx1 (Yaad) from Bacillus subtilis, factor Xa protease recognition site, and hydrophobin from Aspergillus nidulans without His-tag.

SEQ ID NO: 28 shows the amino acid sequence of a hydrophobin fusion protein comprising a secretion signal sequence, a part of synthase subunit Pdx1 (Yaad) from Bacillus subtilis, factor Xa protease recognition site, and hydrophobin from Aspergillus nidulans without His-tag.

More preferably, the isolated hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at     least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%,     at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 47,     49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, or     85, -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 70%, at least     80%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at     least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%,     at least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid     sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36,     72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, preferably the hydrophobin fusion     protein confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to control     plants; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same hydrophobin fusion protein as     the nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the     genetic code.

More preferably, the isolated hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     at least 100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 27, -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 28,     preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein confers enhanced fungal     resistance relative to control plants; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same hydrophobin fusion protein as     the nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the     genetic code.

More preferably, the isolated hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least     94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at     least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid     sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 29, -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 30,     preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein confers enhanced fungal     resistance relative to control plants; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same hydrophobin fusion protein as     the nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the     nucleic acids of (i) to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the     genetic code.

Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid comprises at least about 400, at least about 450, at least about 500, at least about 550, at least about 600, at least about 650, at least about 700, at least about 750, at least about 800, at least about 850, at least about 900, at least about 950, at least about 1000 nucleotides, preferably continuous nucleotides, preferably counted from the 5′ or 3′ end of the nucleic acid or up to the full length of the nucleic acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, or 85, preferably of the nucleic acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 27 or 29. Preferably, a hydrophobin nucleic acid fragment has substantially the same biological activity as the nucleic acid sequence given in SEQ ID NO: 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, or 85, preferably, as SEQ ID NO: 27 or 29.

Preferably, the isolated hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, or 85, a complement thereof, a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin fusion protein with SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, or a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with anyone of these nucleic acid molecules or a complementary sequence (complement) thereof under high stringency hybridization conditions.

Most preferably, the isolated hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 27, a complement thereof, a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein with SEQ ID NO: 28, or a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with anyone of these nucleic acid molecules or a complementary sequence (complement) thereof under high stringency hybridization conditions.

Most preferably, the isolated hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid comprises or consists of a sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 29, a complement thereof, a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein with SEQ ID NO: 30, or a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with anyone of these nucleic acid molecules or a complementary sequence (complement) thereof under high stringency hybridization conditions.

Hydrophobin Fusion Proteins

Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least at least 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at     least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%,     at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least     73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at     least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%,     at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least     87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at     least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%,     at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity     to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28,     30, 32, 34, 36, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, or a functional     fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably     the hydrophobin fusion protein confers enhanced fungal resistance     relative to control plants; or -   (ii) amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least     62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at     least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%,     at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least     76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at     least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%,     at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by     SEQ ID NO: 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77,     79, 81, 83, or 85, or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue,     or paralogue thereof; preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein     confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a hydrophobin fusion protein. Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least     64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at     least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%,     at least 74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least     78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at     least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%,     at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to     the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 28, or a     functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof;     preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein confers enhanced fungal     resistance relative to control plants; or -   (ii) amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least     62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at     least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%,     at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least     76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at     least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%,     at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by     SEQ ID NO: 27, or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or     paralogue thereof; preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein confers     enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a hydrophobin fusion protein. Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least     64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at     least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%,     at least 74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least     78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at     least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%,     at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to     the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 30, or a     functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof;     preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein confers enhanced fungal     resistance relative to control plants; or -   (ii) amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least     62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at     least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%,     at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least     76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at     least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%,     at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by     SEQ ID NO: 29, or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or     paralogue thereof; preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein confers     enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants.

Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least     94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at     least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid     sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36,     72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, or a functional fragment,     derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably the     hydrophobin fusion protein confers enhanced fungal resistance     relative to control plants; or -   (ii) amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 47,     49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, or 85     or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue     thereof; preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein confers enhanced     fungal resistance relative to control plants.

Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least     94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at     least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid     sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 28, or a functional fragment,     derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably the     hydrophobin fusion protein confers enhanced fungal resistance     relative to control plants; or -   (ii) amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 27,     or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue     thereof; preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein confers enhanced     fungal resistance relative to control plants.

Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least     94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at     least 99% or at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid     sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 30, or a functional fragment,     derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably the     hydrophobin fusion protein confers enhanced fungal resistance     relative to control plants; or -   (ii) amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 90%, at least 91%, at least     92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at     least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or at least 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 29,     or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue     thereof; preferably the hydrophobin fusion protein confers enhanced     fungal resistance relative to control plants.

Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises at least about 100, at least about 150, at least about 175, at least about 200, at least about 250, at least about 300, at least about 350, at least about 400, at least about 450, at least about 500, at least about 550, at least about 600 amino acid residues, preferably continuous amino acid residues, preferably counted from the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the amino acid sequence, or up to the full length of the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, preferably of the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 28 or 30. Preferably, a hydrophobin protein fragment has substantially the same biological activity as the amino acid sequence given in SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, preferably, as SEQ ID NO: 28 or 30.

Preferably, the isolated hydrophobin fusion protein comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, or is encoded by a nucleic acid with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, or 85.

Preferably, the isolated hydrophobin fusion protein comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 28, or is encoded by a nucleic acid with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 27.

Preferably, the isolated hydrophobin fusion protein comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 30, or is encoded by a nucleic acid with a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 29.

Expression Constructs and Vector Constructs

The invention also provides genetic constructs, like expression constructs or expression cassettes, or vector constructs, comprising a hydrophobin nucleic acid or a hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid. Preferably, these genetic constructs are suitable for the introduction and/or expression in plants, plant parts or plant cells of nucleic acids encoding hydrophobin proteins or hydrophobin fusion proteins. The expression constructs may be inserted into vectors, which may be commercially available, suitable for transforming into plants or host cells and suitable for expression of the gene of interest in the transformed cells. The invention also provides use of a genetic construct as defined herein in the methods of the invention. Thus, another embodiment of the present invention is an expression construct or expression cassette comprising a hydrophobin nucleic acid or a hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid.

The genetic constructs of the invention may be comprised in a host cell, plant cell, seed, agricultural product or plant or plant part. Plants or host cells are transformed with a genetic construct such as a vector construct or an expression construct comprising any of the hydrophobin nucleic acids or hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acids described above.

In one embodiment the genetic construct of the invention confers increased fungal resistance to a plant when it has been introduced into said plant, which plant expresses the nucleic acid encoding the hydrophobin protein comprised in the genetic construct. In another embodiment the genetic construct of the invention confers increased fungal resistance to a plant comprising plant cells in which the construct has been introduced, which plant cells express the nucleic acid encoding the hydrophobin protein or hydrophobin fusion protein comprised in the genetic construct.

The skilled artisan is well aware of the genetic elements that must be present in the genetic construct in order to successfully transform, select and propagate host cells containing the sequence of interest.

More specifically, the present invention provides an expression construct comprising:

-   (a) a hydrophobin nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein or a     hydrophobin fusion protein as described above; -   (b) one or more control sequences capable of driving expression of     the nucleic acid sequence of (a), wherein the control sequence is     preferably a promoter sequence; and optionally -   (c) a transcription termination sequence.

Preferably, the present invention provides an expression construct comprising:

-   (a) a hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin     fusion protein, wherein the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises one     or more elements selected from the group consisting of signal     sequence, fusion partner, hydrophobin protein, linker sequence, and     purification sequence, all as described above; -   (b) one or more control sequences capable of driving expression of     the nucleic acid sequence of (a), wherein the control sequence is     preferably a promoter sequence; and optionally -   (c) a transcription termination sequence.

Preferably, the hydrophobin nucleic acid or the hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid of the expression construct comprises a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     at least 100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89,     90, 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81,     83, or 85; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein or hydrophobin     fusion protein having in increasing order of preference at least     80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     at least 100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44,     45, 46, 87, 88, 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80,     82, 84, or 86, preferably the hydrophobin protein or hydrophobin     fusion protein confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to     control plants; -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

Most preferably, the hydrophobin nucleic acid or hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic acid of the expression construct has SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 27, or 29, a complement thereof, a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein or hydrophobin fusion protein with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 28, 30, or a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with anyone of these nucleic acid molecules under high stringency hybridization conditions.

A recombinant vector construct comprising:

-   (a) an expression cassette, as described above, comprising a     hydrophobin nucleic acid or a hydrophobin fusion protein nucleic     acid, as described above, operably linked with -   (b) a promoter and -   (c) a transcription termination sequence is a further embodiment of     the invention.

Preferably, the recombinant vector construct comprises:

-   (a) (i) a nucleic acid having at least 60% identity, preferably at     least 70% sequence identity, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least     95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even 100%     sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41,     55-62, 89, 90, 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75,     77, 79, 81, 83, or 85 or a functional fragment thereof, or an     orthologue or a paralogue thereof;     -   (ii) a nucleic acid coding for a protein having at least 60%         identity, preferably at least 70% sequence identity, at least         80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99%         sequence identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID         NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, 88, 48,         50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, a         functional fragment thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue         thereof;     -   (iii) a nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under stringent         conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)         or (ii) or a complement thereof; and/or     -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic         acids of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic         acids of (i) to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic         code;         operably linked with -   (b) a promoter and -   (c) a transcription termination sequence.

Furthermore, a recombinant vector construct is provided comprising:

-   (a) (i) a nucleic acid having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least     98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even 100% sequence identity     with SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 27, or 29;     -   (ii) a nucleic acid coding for a protein having at least 90%, at         least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even         100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 28, or 30; and/or     -   (iii) a nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under stringent         conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)         or (ii) or a complement thereof; and/or     -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic         acids of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic         acids of (i) to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic         code;         operably linked with -   (b) a promoter and -   (c) a transcription termination sequence is a further embodiment of     the invention.

Preferably, the transcription termination sequence is the Solanum tuberosum (potato) cathepsin D inhibitor gene (CATHD) terminator (SEQ ID NO: 38). Preferably, the transcription termination sequence comprises a nucleic acid having at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 38 or a functional fragment thereof, or an orthologue or a paralogue thereof.

Promoters according to the present invention may be constitutive, inducible, in particular pathogen-inducible, developmental stage-preferred, cell type-preferred, tissue-preferred or organ-preferred. Constitutive promoters are active under most conditions. Non-limiting examples of constitutive promoters include the CaMV 19S and 35S promoters (Odell et al., 1985, Nature 313:810-812), the sX CaMV 35S promoter (Kay et al., 1987, Science 236:1299-1302), the Sep1 promoter, the rice actin promoter (McElroy et al., 1990, Plant Cell 2:163-171), the Arabidopsis actin promoter, the ubiquitin promoter (Christensen et al., 1989, Plant Molec. Biol. 18:675-689); pEmu (Last et al., 1991, Theor. Appl. Genet. 81:581-588), the figwort mosaic virus 35S promoter, the Smas promoter (Velten et al., 1984, EMBO J. 3:2723-2730), the GRP1-8 promoter, the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,439), promoters from the T-DNA of Agrobacterium, such as mannopine synthase, nopaline synthase, and octopine synthase, the small subunit of ribulose biphosphate carboxylase (ssuRUBISCO) promoter, and/or the like.

Preferably, the expression vector of the invention comprises a constitutive promoter, mesophyll-specific promoter, epidermis-specific promoter, root-specific promoter, a pathogen inducible promoter, or a fungal-inducible promoter. A promoter is inducible, if its activity, measured on the amount of RNA produced under control of the promoter, is at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50% preferably at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% more preferred at least 100%, at least 200%, at least 300% higher in its induced state, than in its un-induced state. A promoter is cell-, tissue- or organ-specific, if its activity, measured on the amount of RNA produced under control of the promoter, is at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50% preferably at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% more preferred at least 100%, at least 200%, at least 300% higher in a particular cell-type, tissue or organ, then in other cell-types or tissues of the same plant, preferably the other cell-types or tissues are cell types or tissues of the same plant organ, e.g. a root. In the case of organ specific promoters, the promoter activity has to be compared to the promoter activity in other plant organs, e.g. leaves, stems, flowers or seeds. Preferably, the promoter is a constitutive promoter, mesophyll-specific promoter, or epidermis-specific promoter.

Preferably, the promoter is an epidermis-specific promoter, most preferred is the Glyma02g47670 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 37). Preferably, the promoter sequence comprises a nucleic acid having at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 37 or a functional fragment thereof, or an orthologue or a paralogue thereof.

In preferred embodiments, the increase in the protein amount and/or activity of the hydrophobin protein takes place in a constitutive or tissue-specific manner. In especially preferred embodiments, an essentially pathogen-induced increase in the protein amount and/or protein activity takes place, for example by recombinant expression of the hydrophobin nucleic acid under the control of a fungal-inducable promoter. In particular, the expression of the hydrophobin nucleic acid takes place on fungal infected sites, where, however, preferably the expression of the hydrophobin nucleic acid remains essentially unchanged in tissues not infected by fungus.

Developmental stage-preferred promoters are preferentially expressed at certain stages of development. Tissue and organ preferred promoters include those that are preferentially expressed in certain tissues or organs, such as leaves, roots, seeds, or xylem. Examples of tissue preferred and organ preferred promoters include, but are not limited to fruit-preferred, ovule-preferred, male tissue-preferred, seed-preferred, integument-preferred, tuber-preferred, stalk-preferred, pericarp-preferred, leaf-preferred, stigma-preferred, pollen-preferred, anther-preferred, a petal-preferred, sepal-preferred, pedicel-preferred, silique-preferred, stem-preferred, root-preferred promoters and/or the like. Seed preferred promoters are preferentially expressed during seed development and/or germination. For example, seed preferred promoters can be embryo-preferred, endosperm preferred and seed coat-preferred. See Thompson et al., 1989, BioEssays 10:108. Examples of seed preferred promoters include, but are not limited to cellulose synthase (celA), Cim1, gamma-zein, globulin-1, maize 19 kD zein (cZ19I31) and/or the like.

Other suitable tissue-preferred or organ-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to, the napin-gene promoter from rapeseed (U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,152), the USP-promoter from Vicia faba (Baeumlein et al., 1991, Mol Gen Genet. 225(3):459-67), the oleosin-promoter from Arabidopsis (PCT Application No. WO 98/45461), the phaseolin-promoter from Phaseolus vulgaris (U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,200), the Bce4-promoter from Brassica (PCT Application No. WO 91/13980), or the legumin B4 promoter (LeB4; Baeumlein et al., 1992, Plant Journal, 2(2):233-9), as well as promoters conferring seed specific expression in monocot plants like maize, barley, wheat, rye, rice, etc. Suitable promoters to note are the Ipt2 or Ipt1-gene promoter from barley (PCT Application No. WO 95/15389 and PCT Application No. WO 95/23230) or those described in PCT Application No. WO 99/16890 (promoters from the barley hordein-gene, rice glutelin gene, rice oryzin gene, rice prolamin gene, wheat gliadin gene, wheat glutelin gene, oat glutelin gene, Sorghum kasirin-gene, and/or rye secalin gene)

Promoters useful according to the invention include, but are not limited to, are the major chlorophyll a/b binding protein promoter, histone promoters, the Ap3 promoter, the β-conglycin promoter, the napin promoter, the soybean lectin promoter, the maize 15 kD zein promoter, the 22 kD zein promoter, the 27 kD zein promoter, the g-zein promoter, the waxy, shrunken 1, shrunken 2, bronze promoters, the Zm13 promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,169), the maize polygalacturonase promoters (PG) (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,412,085 and 5,545,546), the SGB6 promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,359), as well as synthetic or other natural promoters.

Epidermis-specific promoters may be selected from the group consisting of:

WIR5 (=GstA1); acc. X56012; Dudler & Schweizer,

GLP4, acc. AJ310534; Wei Y., Zhang Z., Andersen C. H., Schmelzer E., Gregersen P. L., Collinge D. B., Smedegaard-Petersen V. and Thordal-Christensen H., Plant Molecular Biology 36, 101 (1998),

GLP2a, acc. AJ237942, Schweizer P., Christoffel A. and Dudler R., Plant J. 20, 541 (1999);

Prx7, acc. AJ003141, Kristensen B. K., Ammitzboll H., Rasmussen S. K. and Nielsen K. A., Molecular Plant Pathology, 2(6), 311 (2001);

GerA, acc. AF250933; Wu S., Druka A., Horvath H., Kleinhofs A., Kannangara G. and von Wettstein D., Plant Phys Biochem 38, 685 (2000);

OsROC1, acc. AP004656

RTBV, acc. AAV62708, AAV62707; Klöti A., Henrich C., Bieri S., He X., Chen G., Burkhardt P. K., Wünn J., Lucca P., Hohn T., Potrykus I. and Fütterer J., PMB 40, 249 (1999);

Chitinase ChtC2-Promoter from potato (Ancillo et al., Planta. 217(4), 566, (2003));

AtProT3 Promoter (Grallath et al., Plant Physiology. 137(1), 117 (2005));

SHN-Promoters from Arabidopsis (AP2/EREBP transcription factors involved in cutin and wax production) (Aarón et al., Plant Cell. 16(9), 2463 (2004)); and/or

GSTA1 from wheat (Dudler et al., WP2005306368 and Altpeter et al., Plant Molecular Biology. 57(2), 271 (2005)).

Mesophyll-specific promoters may be seleted from the group consisting of:

PPCZm1 (=PEPC); Kausch A. P., Owen T. P., Zachwieja S. J., Flynn A. R. and Sheen J., Plant Mol. Biol. 45, 1 (2001);

OsrbcS, Kyozuka et al., PlaNT Phys 102, 991 (1993); Kyozuka J., McElroy D., Hayakawa T., Xie Y., Wu R. and Shimamoto K., Plant Phys. 102, 991 (1993);

OsPPDK, acc. AC099041;

TaGF-2.8, acc. M63223; Schweizer P., Christoffel A. and Dudler R., Plant J. 20, 541 (1999);

TaFBPase, acc. X53957;

TaWIS1, acc. AF467542; US 200220115849;

HvBIS1, acc. AF467539; US 200220115849;

ZmMIS1, acc. AF467514; US 200220115849;

HvPR1a, acc. X74939; Bryngelsson et al., Mol. Plant Microbe Interacti. 7 (2), 267 (1994);

HvPR1b, acc. X74940; Bryngelsson et al., Mol. Plant Microbe Interact. 7(2), 267 (1994);

HvB1,3g1uc; acc. AF479647;

HvPrx8, acc. AJ276227; Kristensen et al., Molecular Plant Pathology, 2(6), 311 (2001); and/or

HvPAL, acc. X97313; Wei Y., Zhang Z., Andersen C. H., Schmelzer E., Gregersen P. L., Collinge D. B., Smedegaard-Petersen V. and Thordal-Christensen H. Plant Molecular Biology 36,101 (1998).

Constitutve promoters may be selected from the group consisting of

-   -   PcUbi promoter from parsley (WO 03/102198)     -   CaMV 35S promoter: Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter (Benfey         et al. 1989 EMBO J. 8(8): 2195-2202),     -   STPT promoter: Arabidopsis thaliana Short Triose phosphat         translocator promoter (Accession NM 123979)     -   Act1 promoter:—Oryza sativa actin 1 gene promoter (McElroy et         al. 1990 PLANT CELL 2(2) 163-171 a) and/or     -   EF1A2 promoter: Glycine max translation elongation factor EF1         alpha (US 20090133159).

One type of vector construct is a “plasmid,” which refers to a circular double stranded DNA loop into which additional DNA segments can be ligated. Another type of vector is a viral vector, wherein additional DNA segments can be ligated into the viral genome. Certain vector constructs are capable of autonomous replication in a host plant cell into which they are introduced. Other vector constructs are integrated into the genome of a host plant cell upon introduction into the host cell, and thereby are replicated along with the host genome. In particular the vector construct is capable of directing the expression of gene to which the vectors is operatively linked. However, the invention is intended to include such other forms of expression vector constructs, such as viral vectors (e.g., potato virus X, tobacco rattle virus, and/or Gemini virus), which serve equivalent functions.

The hydrophobin expression constructs and vectors described herein are useful in the methods, plants, harvestable parts and products of the invention.

In preferred embodiments, the increase in the protein quantity or function of the hydrophobin protein takes place in a constitutive or tissue-specific manner. In especially preferred embodiments, an essentially pathogen-induced increase in the protein quantity or protein function takes place, for example by exogenous expression of the hydrophobin nucleic acid under the control of a fungal-inducible promoter. In particular, the expression of the hydrophobin nucleic acid takes place on fungal infected sites, where, however, preferably the expression of the hydrophobin nucleic acid sequence remains essentially unchanged in tissues not infected by fungus. In preferred embodiments, the protein amount of a hydrophobin protein in the plant is increased by at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or at least 95% or more in comparison to a wild type plant that is not transformed with the hydrophobin nucleic acid.

Methods for Increasing Fungal Resistance; Methods for Modulating Gene Expression

The present invention also provides a method for increasing resistance to fungal pathogens, in particular fungal pathogens of the family Phacopsoraceae, preferably against fungal pathogens of the genus Phacopsora, most preferably against Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur), also known as soy bean rust in plants or plant cells, wherein in comparison to wild type plants, wild type plant parts, or wild type plant cells a hydrophobin protein or a functional fragment, orthologue, paralogue or homologue thereof is increased in expression.

The present invention further provides a method for increasing resistance to fungal pathogens of the genus Phacopsora, most preferably against Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur), also known as soy bean rust in plants or plant cells by increasing the expression of a hydrophobin protein.

In preferred embodiments, the protein amount and/or function of the hydrophobin protein in the plant is increased by at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or at least 95% or more in comparison to a wild type plant that is not transformed with the hydrophobin nucleic acid.

In one embodiment of the invention, the hydrophobin protein is encoded by

-   (i) a nucleic acid having at least 60%, at least 70%, for example at     least 75%, more preferably at least 80%, for example at least 85%,     even more preferably at least 90%, for example at least 95% or at     least 96% or at least 97% or at least 98% most preferably 99%     identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89,     or 90, a functional fragment thereof, or an orthologue or a     paralogue thereof; -   (ii) a nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least 60% identity,     at least 70%, for example at least 75%, more preferably at least     80%, for example at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90%,     for example at least 95% or at least 96% or at least 97% or at least     98% most preferably 99% homology with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,     14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, a functional fragment     thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue thereof, -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complementary sequence (complement) thereof; and/or by -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

A method for increasing fungal resistance, preferably resistance to Phacopsoracea, for example soy bean rust, in a plant, plant part, or plant cell, by increasing the expression of a hydrophobin protein or a functional fragment, orthologue, paralogue or homologue thereof wherein the hydrophobin protein is encoded by

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 80%, at least 90%, at     least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even     100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39,     41, 55-62, 89, or 90, or a functional fragment thereof, an     orthologue or a paralogue thereof; -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least     80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence     identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8,     10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, or a functional     fragment thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue thereof; -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complement thereof is a further embodiment of the     invention; and/or by -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

In the method for increasing resistance to fungal pathogens the exogenous nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein can also encode a hydrophobin fusion protein comprising the hydrophobin protein and one or more elements selected from the group consisting of signal sequence, fusion partner polypeptide, linker sequence, and purification sequence.

Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises a signal sequence, preferably, the signal sequence being a secretion signal sequence. Preferably, the secretion signal sequence is encoded by

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 80% identity with SEQ     ID NO: 23; or a functional fragment thereof, an orthologue or a     paralogue thereof; -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid coding for a protein having at least     80% identity with SEQ ID NO: 24; or a functional fragment thereof,     an orthologue or a paralogue thereof; -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complementary sequence thereof; and/or -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

In another embodiment, the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises a fusion partner polypeptide and the fusion partner polypeptide is encoded by

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 60% identity with SEQ     ID NO: 15, 17, 19, or 21; or a fragment thereof, an orthologue or a     paralogue thereof; -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid coding for a protein having at least     60% identity with SEQ ID NO: 16, 18, 20, 22, 53, or 54; or a     fragment thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue thereof; -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complementary sequence thereof; and/or -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

Thus, preferably, in the method of increasing resistance to fungal pathogens the hydrophobin fusion protein is encoded by

-   (i) a nucleic acid having at least 60%, at least 70%, for example at     least 75%, more preferably at least 80%, for example at least 85%,     even more preferably at least 90%, for example at least 95% or at     least 96% or at least 97% or at least 98% most preferably 99%     identity with SEQ ID NO: 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71,     73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, or 85, a functional fragment thereof, or an     orthologue or a paralogue thereof; or by -   (ii) a nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least 60% identity,     at least 70%, for example at least 75%, more preferably at least     80%, for example at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90%,     for example at least 95% or at least 96% or at least 97% or at least     98% most preferably 99% homology with SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30,     32, 34, 36, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, a functional fragment     thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue thereof, -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complementary sequence (complement) thereof; or by -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

In a further method of the invention, the method comprises the steps of

-   (a) stably transforming a plant cell with a (i) recombinant     expression cassette as described herein in functional linkage with a     promoter or (ii) a recombinant vector construct as described herein; -   (b) regenerating the plant from the plant cell; and -   (c) expressing said nucleic acid, optionally wherein the nucleic     acid which codes for a hydrophobin protein is expressed in an amount     and for a period sufficient to generate or to increase soybean rust     resistance in said plant.

In a further method of the invention, the method comprises the steps of

-   (a) stably transforming a plant cell with a recombinant expression     cassette comprising     -   (i) a nucleic acid having at least 60% identity, at least 70%         sequence identity, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at         least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even 100% sequence         identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62,         89, 90, 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77,         79, 81, 83, or 85; or a functional fragment thereof, or an         orthologue or a paralogue thereof;     -   (ii) a nucleic acid coding for a protein having at least 60%         identity, at least 70% sequence identity, at least 80%, at least         90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity,         or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,         12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, 88, 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32,         34, 36, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, a functional fragment         thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue thereof;     -   (iii) a nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under stringent         conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)         or (ii) or a complement thereof; and/or     -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic         acids of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic         acids of (i) to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic         code;         in functional linkage with a promoter; -   (b) regenerating the plant from the plant cell; and -   (c) expressing said nucleic acid, optionally wherein the nucleic     acid which codes for a hydrophobin protein is expressed in an amount     and for a period sufficient to generate or to increase soybean rust     resistance in said plant.

A preferred embodiment is a method for increasing resistance to soy bean rust in a soy bean plant, soy bean plant part, or soy bean plant cell, by increasing the expression of a hydrophobin protein or hydrophobin fusion protein, wherein the hydrophobin protein or hydrophobin fusion protein is encoded by

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 90%, at least 95%, at     least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even 100% sequence     identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89,     90, 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81,     83, or 85; -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least     90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or     even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14,     40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, 88, 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 72,     74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86; -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complement thereof; and/or by -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code;     wherein increasing the expression of the hydrophobin protein is     achieved by transforming the soy bean plant, plant part or plant     cell with a nucleic acid comprising the nucleic acid set out under     item (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv).

Also a preferred embodiment is a method for increasing resistance to soy bean rust in a soy bean plant, soy bean plant part, or soy bean plant cell, by increasing the expression of a hydrophobin protein, wherein the hydrophobin protein is encoded by

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 90%, at least 95%, at     least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even 100% sequence     identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 27, or 29; or -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least     90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or     even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 28, or 30;     wherein increasing the expression of the hydrophobin protein is     achieved by transforming the soy bean plant, plant part or plant     cell with a nucleic acid comprising the nucleic acid set out under     item (i) or (ii).

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for applying a hydrophobin protein as described herein to a surface of a plant, plant part or plant cell. Preferred parts of the plant are leaves, stem, flower, seed, or root, or parts thereof.

The application of the hydrophobin protein to the surface of the plant, plant part or plant cell can be achieved in several ways. Preferably, the hydrophobin protein is applied to the surface of the plant by spraying a formulation or solution containing the hydrophobin protein on the surface of the plant, plant part or plant cell. Alternatively, the plant, plant part or plant cell can be dipped into the hydrophobin containing formulation or solution or can be cultured or incubated or impregnated in the hydrophobin containing solution. Furthermore, the application of the hydrophobin protein to the surface of the plant, plant part or plant cell can be achieved by means of gene technology. For instance, a transgenic plant, plant part or plant cell can be generated, which express the hydrophobin protein and excretes the hydrophobin protein (preferably, by means of a hydrophobin fusion protein as described herein) to the surface of the plant, plant part or plant cell

Preferred is thus a method for applying a hydrophobin protein to a surface of a plant, plant part or plant cell, wherein the hydrophobin protein is encoded by a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at     least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%,     at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least     74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at     least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%,     at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least     88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at     least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%,     at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the nucleic     acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39,     41, 55-62, 89, or 90, or a functional fragment, derivative,     orthologue, or paralogue thereof; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein having in     increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least     62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at     least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%,     at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least     76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at     least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%,     at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ     ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, or     a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof;     preferably the hydrophobin polypeptide confers enhanced fungal     resistance relative to control plants; and -   (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid     molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency hybridization     conditions; and/or -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

Further preferred is a method for applying a hydrophobin protein as described herein to a surface of a plant, plant part or plant cell, wherein the hydrophobin protein comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 60% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88; or a functional fragment thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue thereof.

Thus, preferred is a method for increasing fungal resistance in a plant by applying a hydrophobin protein as described herein to a surface of a plant, plant part or plant cell, preferably by spraying a formulation comprising a hydrophobin protein to the surface of the plant, plant part or plant cell.

Hence, the present invention is also directed to the use of a hydrophobin protein as described herein for applying the hydrophobin protein to a surface of a plant, a plant part, or a plant cell.

Preferably, the present invention is also directed to the use of a hydrophobin protein as described herein for increasing fungal resistance in a plant, a plant part, or a plant cell, preferably by applying the hydrophobin protein to a surface of a plant, a plant part, or a plant cell.

Thus, the present invention is also directed to a surface of a plant, plant part or plant cell coated with a hydrophobin protein as described herein.

Preferably, the hydrophobin protein is applied to the surface of a plant, plant part or plant cell in the form of a hydrophobin fusion protein as described herein, preferably with a fusion protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 95%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 32, 34, 36, 48, 80, or 52, or an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 95%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 31, 33, 35, 47, 49, or 51.

The surface of a plant or plant part coated with a hydrophobin protein can be the surface of any plant organ. Preferably, the surface of a plant or plant part coated with a hydrophobin protein is a plant organ surface with the plant organ being selected from the group consisting of leave, stem, flower, root, and seed.

Also part of the invention is a plant, plant part or plant cell having a surface coated with a hydrophobin protein as described herein.

The formulation containing the hydrophobin preferably comprises one or more of the following: solvent, buffer, surfactant, detergent (ionic and/or non-ionic), stabilizer and preservative.

Appropriate hydrophobin formulations and conditions for coating a surface with a hydrophobin protein are described in the Examples and, for instance, in WO2006/082253A2, WO2006/082251A2 and WO2006/131564A2.

The fungal pathogens or fungus-like pathogens (such as, for example, Chromista) can belong to the group comprising Plasmodiophoramycota, Oomycota, Ascomycota, Chytridiomycetes, Zygomycetes, Basidiomycota or Deuteromycetes (Fungi imperfecti). Pathogens which may be mentioned by way of example, but not by limitation, are those detailed in Tables 2 and 3, and the diseases which are associated with them.

TABLE 2 Diseases caused by biotrophic and/or heminecrotrophic phytopathogenic fungi Disease Pathogen Leaf rust Puccinia recondita Yellow rust P. striiformis Powdery mildew Erysiphe graminis/Blumeria graminis Rust (common corn) Puccinia sorghi Rust (Southern corn) Puccinia polysora Tobacco leaf spot Cercospora nicotianae Rust (soybean) Phakopsora pachyrhizi, P. meibomiae Rust (tropical corn) Physopella pallescens, P. zeae = Angiopsora zeae

TABLE 3 Diseases caused by necrotrophic and/or hemibiotrophic fungi and Oomycetes Disease Pathogen Plume blotch Septoria (Stagonospora) nodorum Leaf blotch Septoria tritici Ear fusarioses Fusarium spp. Late blight Phytophthora infestans Anthrocnose leaf blight Colletotrichum graminicola (teleomorph: Anthracnose stalk rot Glomerella graminicola Politis); Glomerella tucumanensis (anamorph: Glomerella falcatum Went) Curvularia leaf spot Curvularia clavata, C. eragrostidis, = C. maculans (teleomorph: Cochliobolus eragrostidis), Curvularia inaequalis, C. intermedia (teleomorph: Cochliobolus intermedius), Curvularia lunata (teleomorph: Cochliobolus lunatus), Curvularia pallescens (teleomorph: Cochliobolus pallescens), Curvularia senegalensis, C. tuberculata (teleomorph: Cochliobolus tuberculatus) Didymella leaf spot Didymella exitalis Diplodia leaf spot or streak Stenocarpella macrospora = Diplodialeaf macrospora Brown stripe downy Sclerophthora rayssiae var. zeae mildew Crazy top downy mildew Sclerophthora macrospora = Sclerospora macrospora Green ear downy mildew (graminicola Sclerospora graminicola downy mildew) Leaf spots, minor Alternaria alternata, Ascochyta maydis, A. tritici, A. zeicola, Bipolaris victoriae = Helminthosporium victoriae (teleomorph: Cochliobolus victoriae), C. sativus (anamorph: Bipolaris sorokiniana = H. sorokinianum = H. sativum), Epicoccum nigrum, Exserohilum prolatum = Drechslera prolata (teleomorph: Setosphaeria prolata) Graphium penicillioides, Leptosphaeria maydis, Leptothyrium zeae, Ophiosphaerella herpotricha, (anamorph: Scolecosporiella sp.), Paraphaeosphaeria michotii, Phoma sp., Septoria zeae, S. zeicola, S. zeina Northern corn leaf blight (white blast, Setosphaeria turcica (anamorph: Exserohilum crown stalk rot, stripe) turcicum = Helminthosporium turcicum) Northern corn leaf spot Cochliobolus carbonum (anamorph: Bipolaris Helminthosporium ear rot (race 1) zeicola = Helminthosporium carbonum) Phaeosphaeria leaf spot Phaeosphaeria maydis = Sphaerulina maydis Rostratum leaf spot Setosphaeria rostrata, (anamorph: (Helminthosporium leaf disease, ear xserohilum rostratum = Helminthosporium and stalk rot) rostratum) Java downy mildew Peronosclerospora maydis = Sclerospora maydis Philippine downy mildew Peronosclerospora philippinensis = Sclerospora philippinensis Sorghum downy mildew Peronosclerospora sorghi = Sclerospora sorghi Spontaneum downy mildew Peronosclerospora spontanea = Sclerospora spontanea Sugarcane downy mildew Peronosclerospora sacchari = Sclerospora sacchari Sclerotium ear rot (southern blight) Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. (teleomorph: Athelia rolfsii) Seed rot-seedling blight Bipolaris sorokiniana, B. zeicola = Helminthosporium carbonum, Diplodia maydis, Exserohilum pedicillatum, Exserohilum turcicum = Helminthosporium turcicum, Fusarium avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. moniliforme, Gibberella zeae (anamorph: F. graminearum), Macrophomina phaseolina, Penicillium spp., Phomopsis sp., Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, R. zeae, Sclerotium rolfsii, Spicaria sp. Selenophoma leaf spot Selenophoma sp. Yellow leaf blight Ascochyta ischaemi, Phyllosticta maydis (teleomorph: Mycosphaerella zeae-maydis) Zonate leaf spot Gloeocercospora sorghi

The following are especially preferred:

-   -   Plasmodiophoromycota such as Plasmodiophora brassicae (clubroot         of crucifers), Spongospora subterranea, Polymyxa graminis,     -   Oomycota such as Bremia lactucae (downy mildew of lettuce),         Peronospora (downy mildew) in snapdragon (P. antirrhini), onion         (P. destructor), spinach (P. effusa), soybean (P. manchurica),         tobacco (“blue mold”; P. tabacina) alfalfa and clover (P.         trifolium), Pseudoperonospora humuli (downy mildew of hops),         Plasmopara (downy mildew in grapevines) (P. viticola) and         sunflower (P. halstedii), Sclerophthora macrospora (downy mildew         in cereals and grasses), Pythium (for example damping-off of         Beta beet caused by P. debaryanum), Phytophthora infestans (late         blight in potato and in tomato and the like), Albugo spec.     -   Ascomycota such as Microdochium nivale (snow mold of rye and         wheat), Fusarium, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium culmorum         (partial ear sterility mainly in wheat), Fusarium oxysporum         (Fusarium wilt of tomato), Blumeria graminis (powdery mildew of         barley (f.sp. hordei) and wheat (f.sp. tritici)), Erysiphe pisi         (powdery mildew of pea), Nectria galligena (Nectria canker of         fruit trees), Uncinula necator (powdery mildew of grapevine),         Pseudopeziza tracheiphila (red fire disease of grapevine),         Claviceps purpurea (ergot on, for example, rye and grasses),         Gaeumannomyces graminis (take-all on wheat, rye and other         grasses), Magnaporthe grisea, Pyrenophora graminea (leaf stripe         of barley), Pyrenophora teres (net blotch of barley),         Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (leaf blight of wheat), Venturia         inaequalis (apple scab), Sclerotinia sclerotium (stalk break,         stem rot), Pseudopeziza medicaginis (leaf spot of alfalfa, white         and red clover).     -   Basidiomycetes such as Typhula incarnata (typhula blight on         barley, rye, wheat), Ustilago maydis (blister smut on maize),         Ustilago nuda (loose smut on barley), Ustilago tritici (loose         smut on wheat, spelt), Ustilago avenae (loose smut on oats),         Rhizoctonia solani (rhizoctonia root rot of potato),         Sphacelotheca spp. (head smut of sorghum), Melampsora lini (rust         of flax), Puccinia graminis (stem rust of wheat, barley, rye,         oats), Puccinia recondita (leaf rust on wheat), Puccinia         dispersa (brown rust on rye), Puccinia hordei (leaf rust of         barley), Puccinia coronata (crown rust of oats), Puccinia         striiformis (yellow rust of wheat, barley, rye and a large         number of grasses), Uromyces appendiculatus (brown rust of         bean), Sclerotium rolfsii (root and stem rots of many plants).     -   Deuteromycetes (Fungi imperfecti) such as Septoria         (Stagonospora) nodorum (glume blotch) of wheat (Septoria         tritici), Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (eyespot of wheat,         barley, rye), Rynchosporium secalis (leaf spot on rye and         barley), Alternaria solani (early blight of potato, tomato),         Phoma betae (blackleg on Beta beet), Cercospora beticola (leaf         spot on Beta beet), Alternaria brassicae (black spot on oilseed         rape, cabbage and other crucifers), Verticillium dahliae         (verticillium wilt), Colletotrichum, Colletotrichum         lindemuthianum (bean anthracnose), Phoma lingam (blackleg of         cabbage and oilseed rape), Botrytis cinerea (grey mold of         grapevine, strawberry, tomato, hops and the like).

Especially preferred are biotrophic pathogens, e.g., Phakopsora pachyrhizi and/or those pathogens which have essentially a similar infection mechanism as Phakopsora pachyrhizi, as described herein. Particularly preferred are pathogens from the subclass Pucciniomycetes, preferably from the order Pucciniales (rust), previously known as Uredinales, among which in particular the Melompsoraceae. Preferred are Phakopsoraceae, more preferably Phakopsora. Especially preferred are Phakopsora pachyrhizi and/or Phakopsora meibomiae.

Also preferred rust fungi are selected from the group of Puccinia, Gymnosporangium, Juniperus, Cronartium, Hemileia, and Uromyces; preferably Puccinia sorghi, Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae, Juniperus virginiana, Cronartium ribicola, Hemileia vastatrix, Puccinia graminis, Puccinia coronata, Uromyces phaseoli, Puccinia hemerocallidis, Puccinia persistens subsp. Triticina, Puccinia striiformis, Puccinia graminis causes, and/or Uromyces appendeculatus.

Transgenic Organisms; Transgenic Plants, Plant Parts, and Plant Cells

A preferred embodiment is a transgenic plant, transgenic plant part, or transgenic plant cell overexpressing an exogenous hydrophobin protein or hydrophobin fusion protein, as described above. Preferably, the hydrophobin protein overexpressed in the plant, plant part or plant cell is encoded by

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 60% identity with SEQ     ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90, or a     functional fragment, thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue thereof;     or by -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least     60% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44,     45, 46, 87, or 88, a functional fragment thereof, an orthologue or a     paralogue thereof; -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complement thereof. Most preferably, the exogenous     nucleic acid has at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence     identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1; or     comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at     least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even     100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2; and/or by -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

Preferably, the hydrophobin fusion protein overexpressed in the plant, plant part or plant cell is encoded by

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 60% identity with SEQ     ID NO: 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79,     81, 83, or 85, or a functional fragment, thereof, an orthologue or a     paralogue thereof; or by -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least     60% identity with SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 72, 74,     76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, a functional fragment thereof, an     orthologue or a paralogue thereof; -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complement thereof; most preferably, the exogenous     nucleic acid has at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence     identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 27 or 29;     or comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at     least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even     100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 28 or 30; and/or by -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

More preferably, the transgenic plant, transgenic plant part, or transgenic plant cell according to the present invention has been obtained by transformation with a recombinant vector described herein.

Suitable methods for transforming or transfecting host cells including plant cells are well known in the art of plant biotechnology. Any method may be used to transform the recombinant expression vector into plant cells to yield the transgenic plants of the invention. General methods for transforming dicotyledonous plants are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,940,838; 5,464,763, and the like. Methods for transforming specific dicotyledonous plants, for example, cotton, are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,004,863; 5,159,135; and 5,846,797. Soy transformation methods are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,992,375; 5,416,011; 5,569,834; 5,824,877; 6,384,301 and in EP 0301749B1 may be used. Transformation methods may include direct and indirect methods of transformation. Suitable direct methods include polyethylene glycol induced DNA uptake, liposome-mediated transformation (U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,475), biolistic methods using the gene gun (Fromm M E et al., Bio/Technology. 8(9):833-9, 1990; Gordon-Kamm et al. Plant Cell 2:603, 1990), electroporation, incubation of dry embryos in DNA-comprising solution, and microinjection. In the case of these direct transformation methods, the plasmids used need not meet any particular requirements. Simple plasmids, such as those of the pUC series, pBR322, M13mp series, pACYC184 and the like can be used. If intact plants are to be regenerated from the transformed cells, an additional selectable marker gene is preferably located on the plasmid. The direct transformation techniques are equally suitable for dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants.

Transformation can also be carried out by bacterial infection by means of Agrobacterium (for example EP 0 116 718), viral infection by means of viral vectors (EP 0 067 553; U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,956; WO 95/34668; WO 93/03161) or by means of pollen (EP 0 270 356; WO 85/01856; U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,611). Agrobacterium based transformation techniques (especially for dicotyledonous plants) are well known in the art. The Agrobacterium strain (e.g., Agrobacterium tumefaciens or Agrobacterium rhizogenes) comprises a plasmid (Ti or Ri plasmid) and a T-DNA element which is transferred to the plant following infection with Agrobacterium. The T-DNA (transferred DNA) is integrated into the genome of the plant cell. The T-DNA may be localized on the Ri- or Ti-plasmid or is separately comprised in a so-called binary vector. Methods for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation are described, for example, in Horsch R B et al. (1985) Science 225:1229. The Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is best suited to dicotyledonous plants but has also been adapted to monocotyledonous plants. The transformation of plants by Agrobacteria is described in, for example, White F F, Vectors for Gene Transfer in Higher Plants, Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, edited by S. D. Kung and R. Wu,

Academic Press, 1993, pp. 15-38; Jenes B et al. Techniques for Gene Transfer, Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, edited by S. D. Kung and R. Wu, Academic Press, 1993, pp. 128-143; Potrykus (1991) Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Molec Biol 42:205-225. Transformation may result in transient or stable transformation and expression. Although a nucleotide sequence of the present invention can be inserted into any plant and plant cell falling within these broad classes, it is particularly useful in crop plant cells.

The genetically modified plant cells can be regenerated via all methods with which the skilled worker is familiar. Suitable methods can be found in the abovementioned publications by S. D. Kung and R. Wu, Potrykus or Höfgen and Willmitzer.

After transformation, plant cells or cell groupings may be selected for the presence of one or more markers which are encoded by plant-expressible genes co-transferred with the gene of interest, following which the transformed material is regenerated into a whole plant. To select transformed plants, the plant material obtained in the transformation is, as a rule, subjected to selective conditions so that transformed plants can be distinguished from untransformed plants. For example, the seeds obtained in the above-described manner can be planted and, after an initial growing period, subjected to a suitable selection by spraying. A further possibility consists in growing the seeds, if appropriate after sterilization, on agar plates using a suitable selection agent so that only the transformed seeds can grow into plants. Alternatively, the transformed plants are screened for the presence of a selectable marker such as the ones described above. The transformed plants may also be directly selected by screening for the presence of the hydrophobin nucleic acid.

Following DNA transfer and regeneration, putatively transformed plants may also be evaluated, for instance using Southern analysis, for the presence of the gene of interest, copy number and/or genomic organisation. Alternatively or additionally, expression levels of the newly introduced DNA may be monitored using Northern and/or Western analysis, both techniques being well known to persons having ordinary skill in the art.

The generated transformed plants may be propagated by a variety of means, such as by clonal propagation or classical breeding techniques. For example, a first generation (or T1) transformed plant may be selfed and homozygous second-generation (or T2) transformants selected, and the T2 plants may then further be propagated through classical breeding techniques. The generated transformed organisms may take a variety of forms. For example, they may be chimeras of transformed cells and non-transformed cells; clonal transformants (e.g., all cells transformed to contain the expression cassette); grafts of transformed and untransformed tissues (e.g., in plants, a transformed rootstock grafted to an untransformed scion).

Preferably, the transgenic plant of the present invention or the plant obtained by the method of the present invention has increased resistance against fungal pathogens, preferably against fungal pathogens of the family Phacopsoraceae, more preferably against fungal pathogens of the genus Phacopsora, most preferably against Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur), also known as soybean rust. Preferably, resistance against Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and/or Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur) is increased.

Preferably, the plant, plant part, or plant cell is a plant or derived from a plant selected from the group consisting of beans, soya, pea, clover, kudzu, lucerne, lentils, lupins, vetches, groundnut, rice, wheat, barley, arabidopsis, lentil, banana, canola, cotton, potatoe, corn, sugar cane, alfalfa, and sugar beet.

In one embodiment of the present invention the plant is selected from the group consisting of beans, soya, pea, clover, kudzu, lucerne, lentils, lupins, vetches, and/or groundnut. Preferably, the plant is a legume, comprising plants of the genus Phaseolus (comprising French bean, dwarf bean, climbing bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.), Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray), runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus)); the genus Glycine (comprising Glycine soja, soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merill)); pea (Pisum) (comprising shelling peas (Pisum sativum L. convar. sativum), also called smooth or round-seeded peas; marrowfat pea (Pisum sativum L. convar. medullare Alef. emend. C.O. Lehm), sugar pea (Pisum sativum L. convar. axiphium Alef emend. C.O. Lehm), also called snow pea, edible-podded pea or mangetout, (Pisum granda sneida L. convar. sneidulo p. shneiderium)); peanut (Arachis hypogaea), clover (Trifolium spec.), medick (Medicago), kudzu vine (Pueraria lobata), common lucerne, alfalfa (M. sativa L.), chickpea (Cicer), lentils (Lens) (Lens culinaris Medik.), lupins (Lupinus); vetches (Vicia), field bean, broad bean (Vicia faba), vetchling (Lathyrus) (comprising chickling pea (Lathyrus sativus), heath pea (Lathyrus tuberosus)); genus Vigna (comprising moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Maréchal), adzuki bean (Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & H. Ohashi), urd bean (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper), mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek), bambara groundnut (Vigna subterrane (L.) Verdc.), rice bean (Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi & H. Ohashi), Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich., Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., in the three subspecies asparagus bean, cowpea, catjang bean)); pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), the genus Macrotyloma (comprising geocarpa groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Maréchal & Baudet), horse bean (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.)); goa bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.), African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Harms), Egyptian black bean, dolichos bean, lablab bean (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet), yam bean (Pachyrhizus), guar bean (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus (L.) Taub.); and/or the genus Canavalia (comprising jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC.), sword bean (Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC.)).

Further preferred is a plant selected from plant is selected from the group consisting of beans, soya, pea, clover, kudzu, lucerne, lentils, lupins, vetches, and groundnut. Most preferably, the plant, plant part, or plant cell is or is derived from soy.

Methods for the Production of Transgenic Plants

One embodiment according to the present invention provides a method for producing a transgenic plant, a transgenic plant part, or a transgenic plant cell resistant to a fungal pathogen, preferably of the family Phacosporaceae, for example soybean rust, wherein the recombinant nucleic acid used to generate a transgenic plant comprises a promoter that is functional in the plant cell, operably linked to a hydrophobin nucleic acid, which is preferably SEQ ID NO: 1, anda terminator regulatory sequence.

In one embodiment, the present invention refers to a method for the production of a transgenic plant, transgenic plant part, or transgenic plant cell having increased fungal resistance, comprising

-   (a) introducing a recombinant vector construct according to the     present invention into a plant, a plant part or a plant cell and -   (b) generating a transgenic plant from the plant, plant part or     plant cell.

Preferably, the method for the production of the transgenic plant, transgenic plant part, or transgenic plant cell further comprises the step

-   (c) expressing the hydrophobin protein, preferably     encoded by -   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 60% identity with SEQ     ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90, or a     functional fragment, thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue thereof;     or by -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least     60% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44,     45, 46, 87, or 88, a functional fragment thereof, an orthologue or a     paralogue thereof; -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complement thereof. Most preferably, the exogenous     nucleic acid has at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence     identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1; or     comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at     least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even     100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2; and/or by -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

In case the coding sequence for a hydrophobin fusion protein is transformed, the hydrophobin fusion protein expressed in the plant, plant part or plant cell is preferably encoded by

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 60% identity with SEQ     ID NO: 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79,     81, 83, or 85, or a functional fragment, thereof, an orthologue or a     paralogue thereof; or by -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least     60% identity with SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 72, 74,     76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, a functional fragment thereof, an     orthologue or a paralogue thereof; -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complement thereof. Most preferably, the exogenous     nucleic acid has at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence     identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 27 or 29;     or comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at     least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even     100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 28 or 30; and/or by -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

Preferably, the method for the production of the transgenic plant, transgenic plant part, or transgenic plant cell additionally comprises the step of harvesting the seeds of the transgenic plant and planting the seeds and growing the seeds to plants, wherein the grown plant(s) comprises

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 60% identity with SEQ     ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90, or a     functional fragment, thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue thereof;     or by -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least     60% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44,     45, 46, 87, or 88, a functional fragment thereof, an orthologue or a     paralogue thereof; -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complement thereof. Most preferably, the exogenous     nucleic acid has at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence     identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1; or     comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at     least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even     100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2; and/or by -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

In case the coding sequence for a hydrophobin fusion protein is used, the grown plant(s) comprises

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 60% identity with SEQ     ID NO: 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79,     81, 83, or 85, or a functional fragment, thereof, an orthologue or a     paralogue thereof; or by -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least     60% identity with SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 72, 74,     76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, a functional fragment thereof, an     orthologue or a paralogue thereof; -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complement thereof. Most preferably, the exogenous     nucleic acid has at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence     identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 27 or 29;     or comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at     least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even     100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 28 or 30; and/or by -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

The transgenic plants may be selected by known methods as described above (e.g., by screening for the presence of one or more markers which are encoded by plant-expressible genes co-transferred with the hydrophobin gene or by directly screening for the hydrophobin nucleic acid).

Furthermore, the use of the exogenous hydrophobin nucleic acid or the recombinant vector construct comprising the hydrophobin nucleic acid for the transformation of a plant, plant part, or plant cell to provide a fungal resistant plant, plant part, or plant cell is provided.

Harvestable Parts and Products

Harvestable parts of the transgenic plant according to the present invention are part of the invention. The harvestable parts may be seeds, roots, leaves and/or flowers comprising the hydrophobin nucleic acid or hydrophobin protein or parts thereof. Preferred parts of soy plants are soy beans comprising the hydrophobin nucleic acid or hydrophobin protein.

Products derived from a transgenic plant according to the present invention, parts thereof or harvestable parts thereof are part of the invention. A preferred product is soybean meal or soybean oil.

Preferably, the harvestable part of the transgenic plant or the product derived from the transgenic plant comprises an exogenous hydrophobin nucleic acid, wherein the exogenous hydrophobin nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having in increasing order of     preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%,     at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least     68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at     least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%,     at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least     82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at     least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%,     at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least     96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1,     3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90, or a functional     fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein     having in increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%,     at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least     66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at     least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%,     at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least     80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at     least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%,     at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least     94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at     least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44,     45, 46, 87, or 88, or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue,     or paralogue thereof; preferably the hydrophobin polypeptide confers     enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; -   (iv) an exogenous nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a     nucleic acid molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency     hybridization conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code;     or wherein the harvestable part of the transgenic plant or the     product derived from the transgenic plant comprises a hydrophobin     protein encoded by any one of the hydrophobin nucleic acids of (i)     to (v).     Method for Manufacturing a Product

In one embodiment the method for the production of a product comprises

-   a) growing the plants of the invention or obtainable by the methods     of invention and -   b) producing said product from or by the plants of the invention     and/or parts, e.g. seeds, of these plants.

In a further embodiment the method comprises the steps a) growing the plants of the invention, b) removing the harvestable parts as described above from the plants and c) producing said product from or by the harvestable parts of the invention.

Preferably, the product obtained by said method comprises an exogenous hydrophobin nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having in increasing order of     preference at least 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%,     at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least     68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at     least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%,     at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least     82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at     least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%,     at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least     96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence     identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1,     3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90, or a functional     fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; -   (ii) the complementary sequence of anyone of the nucleic acids of     (i); -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a hydrophobin protein     having in increasing order of preference at least 60%, at least 61%,     at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least     66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at     least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%,     at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least     80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at     least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%,     at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least     94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at     least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40, 42, 43, 44,     45, 46, 87, or 88, or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue,     or paralogue thereof; preferably the hydrophobin polypeptide confers     enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; -   (iv) an exogenous nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a     nucleic acid molecule of (i) to (iii) under high stringency     hybridization conditions; and -   (v) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iv) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iv) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code;     or wherein the product obtained by said method comprises a     hydrophobin protein encoded by any one of the hydrophobin nucleic     acids of (i) to (v).

The product may be produced at the site where the plant has been grown, the plants and/or parts thereof may be removed from the site where the plants have been grown to produce the product. Typically, the plant is grown, the desired harvestable parts are removed from the plant, if feasible in repeated cycles, and the product made from the harvestable parts of the plant. The step of growing the plant may be performed only once each time the methods of the invention is performed, while allowing repeated times the steps of product production e.g. by repeated removal of harvestable parts of the plants of the invention and if necessary further processing of these parts to arrive at the product. It is also possible that the step of growing the plants of the invention is repeated and plants or harvestable parts are stored until the production of the product is then performed once for the accumulated plants or plant parts. Also, the steps of growing the plants and producing the product may be performed with an overlap in time, even simultaneously to a large extend or sequentially. Generally the plants are grown for some time before the product is produced.

In one embodiment the products produced by said methods of the invention are plant products such as, but not limited to, a foodstuff, feedstuff, a food supplement, feed supplement, fiber, cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical. Foodstuffs are regarded as compositions used for nutrition and/or for supplementing nutrition. Animal feedstuffs and animal feed supplements, in particular, are regarded as foodstuffs.

In another embodiment the inventive methods for the production are used to make agricultural products such as, but not limited to, plant extracts, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, oils, polymers, vitamins, and the like.

It is possible that a plant product consists of one or more agricultural products to a large extent.

The transgenic plants of the invention may be crossed with similar transgenic plants or with transgenic plants lacking the nucleic acids of the invention or with non-transgenic plants, using known methods of plant breeding, to prepare seeds. Further, the transgenic plant cells or plants of the present invention may comprise, and/or be crossed to another transgenic plant that comprises one or more exogenous nucleic acids, thus creating a “stack” of transgenes in the plant and/or its progeny. The seed is then planted to obtain a crossed fertile transgenic plant comprising the hydrophobin nucleic acid. The crossed fertile transgenic plant may have the particular expression cassette inherited through a female parent or through a male parent. The second plant may be an inbred plant. The crossed fertile transgenic may be a hybrid. Also included within the present invention are seeds of any of these crossed fertile transgenic plants. The seeds of this invention can be harvested from fertile transgenic plants and be used to grow progeny generations of transformed plants of this invention including hybrid plant lines comprising the exogenous nucleic acid.

Method for Breeding

Thus, one embodiment of the present invention is a method for breeding a fungal resistant plant comprising the steps of

-   (a) crossing a transgenic plant described herein or a plant     obtainable by a method described herein with a second plant; -   (b) obtaining a seed or seeds resulting from the crossing step     described in (a); -   (c) planting said seed or seeds and growing the seed or seeds to     plants; and -   (d) selecting from said plants the plants expressing a hydrophobin     protein, preferably encoded by     -   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 60% identity with         SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 39, 41, 55-62, 89, or 90, or a         functional fragment, thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue         thereof; or by     -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at         least 60% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 40,         42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 87, or 88, a functional fragment thereof, an         orthologue or a paralogue thereof;     -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under         stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according         to (i) or (ii) or a complement thereof. Most preferably, the         exogenous nucleic acid has at least 95%, at least 98%, at least         99% sequence identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ         ID NO: 1; or comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a         protein having at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence         identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2;         and/or by     -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic         acids of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic         acids of (i) to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic         code.

In case the coding sequence for a hydrophobin fusion protein is used, plants are selected expressing a hydrophobin fusion protein, preferably encoded by

-   (i) an exogenous nucleic acid having at least 60% identity with SEQ     ID NO: 47, 49, 51, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 63-70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79,     81, 83, or 85, or a functional fragment, thereof, an orthologue or a     paralogue thereof; or by -   (ii) an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least     60% identity with SEQ ID NO: 48, 50, 52, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 72, 74,     76, 78, 80, 82, 84, or 86, a functional fragment thereof, an     orthologue or a paralogue thereof; and/or by -   (iii) an exogenous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under     stringent conditions with any of the nucleic acids according to (i)     or (ii) or a complement thereof. Most preferably, the exogenous     nucleic acid has at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence     identity, or even 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 27 or 29;     or comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at     least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity, or even     100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 28 or 30; and/or by -   (iv) a nucleic acid encoding the same protein as the nucleic acids     of (i) to (iii) above, but differing from the nucleic acids of (i)     to (iii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

The transgenic plants may be selected by known methods as described above (e.g., by screening for the presence of one or more markers which are encoded by plant-expressible genes co-transferred with the hydrophobin gene or screening for the hydrophobin nucleic acid itself).

According to the present invention, the introduced hydrophobin nucleic acid may be maintained in the plant cell stably if it is incorporated into a non-chromosomal autonomous replicon or integrated into the plant chromosomes. Whether present in an extra-chromosomal non-replicating or replicating vector construct or a vector construct that is integrated into a chromosome, the exogenous hydrophobin nucleic acid preferably resides in a plant expression cassette. A plant expression cassette preferably contains regulatory sequences capable of driving gene expression in plant cells that are functional linked so that each sequence can fulfill its function, for example, termination of transcription by polyadenylation signals. Preferred polyadenylation signals are those originating from Agrobacterium tumefaciens t-DNA such as the gene 3 known as octopine synthase of the Ti-plasmid pTiACH5 (Gielen et al., 1984, EMBO J. 3:835) or functional equivalents thereof, but also all other terminators functionally active in plants are suitable. As plant gene expression is very often not limited on transcriptional levels, a plant expression cassette preferably contains other functional linked sequences like translational enhancers such as the overdrive-sequence containing the 5′-untranslated leader sequence from tobacco mosaic virus increasing the polypeptide per RNA ratio (Gallie et al., 1987, Nucl. Acids Research 15:8693-8711). Examples of plant expression vectors include those detailed in: Becker, D. et al., 1992, New plant binary vectors with selectable markers located proximal to the left border, Plant Mol. Biol. 20:1195-1197; Bevan, M. W., 1984, Binary Agrobacterium vectors for plant transformation, Nucl. Acid. Res. 12:8711-8721; and Vectors for Gene Transfer in Higher Plants; in: Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, eds.: Kung and R. Wu, Academic Press, 1993, S. 15-38.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims to the invention, but are rather intended to be exemplary of certain embodiments. Any variations in the exemplified methods that occur to the skilled artisan are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Example 1: General Methods

The chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides can be affected, for example, in the known fashion using the phosphoamidite method (Voet, Voet, 2nd Edition, Wiley Press New York, pages 896-897). The cloning steps carried out for the purposes of the present invention such as, for example, restriction cleavages, agarose gel electrophoresis, purification of DNA fragments, transfer of nucleic acids to nitrocellulose and nylon membranes, linking DNA fragments, transformation of E. coli cells, bacterial cultures, phage multiplication and sequence analysis of recombinant DNA, are carried out as described by Sambrook et al. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989), ISBN 0-87969-309-6. The sequencing of recombinant DNA molecules is carried out with an MWG-Licor laser fluorescence DNA sequencer following the method of Sanger (Sanger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74, 5463 (1977)).

Example 2: Cloning of Overexpression Vector Constructs

The cDNAs of all genes mentioned in this application were generated by DNA synthesis (Geneart, Regensburg, Germany).

The hydrophobin nucleic acids (as shown in SEQ ID NO: 27 and SEQ ID NO: 29) were synthesized in a way that a PacI restriction site is located in front of the start-ATG and a AscI restriction site downstream of the stop-codon. The synthesized cDNAs were digested using the restriction enzymes PacI and AscI (NEB Biolabs) and ligated in a PacI/AscI digested Gateway pENTRY vector (Invitrogen, Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) in a way that the full-length fragment is located in sense direction between the Glyma02g47670 promoter (epidermis-specific promoter) and a Solanum tuberosum [Potato] cathepsin D inhibitor gene terminator (CATHD) terminator.

To obtain the binary plant transformation vector, a triple LR reaction (Gateway system, Invitrogen, Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) was performed according to manufacturers protocol by using an empty pENTRY-A vector, the promoter::cDNA::terminator in a pENTRY-B vector and an empty pENTRY-C vector. As target a binary pDEST vector was used which is composed of: (1) a Spectinomycin/Streptomycin resistance cassette for bacterial selection (2) a pVS1 origin for replication in Agrobacteria (3) a pBR322 origin of replication for stable maintenance in E. coli and (4) between the right and left border an AHAS selection under control of a pcUbi-promoter. The recombination reaction was transformed into E. coli (DH5alpha), mini-prepped and screened by specific restriction digestions. A positive clone from each vector construct was sequenced and submitted soy transformation.

Example 3: Soy Transformation

The expression vector constructs (see example 2) were transformed into soy.

3.1—Sterilization and Germination of Soy Seeds

Virtually any seed of any soy variety can be employed in the method of the invention. A variety of soycultivar (including Jack, Williams 82, Jake, Stoddard and Resnik) is appropriate for soy transformation. Soy seeds were sterilized in a chamber with a chlorine gas produced by adding 3.5 ml 12N HCl drop wise into 100 ml bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) in a desiccator with a tightly fitting lid. After 24 to 48 hours in the chamber, seeds were removed and approximately 18 to 20 seeds were plated on solid GM medium with or without 5 μM 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP) in 100 mm Petri dishes. Seedlings without BAP are more elongated and roots develop, especially secondary and lateral root formation. BAP strengthens the seedling by forming a shorter and stockier seedling.

Seven-day-old seedlings grown in the light (>100 ginstein/m²s) at 25° C. were used for explant material for the three-explant types. At this time, the seed coat was split, and the epicotyl with the unifoliate leaves have grown to, at minimum, the length of the cotyledons. The epicotyl should be at least 0.5 cm to avoid the cotyledonary-node tissue (since soycultivars and seed lots may vary in the developmental time a description of the germination stage is more accurate than a specific germination time).

For inoculation of entire seedlings, see Method A (example 3.3. and 3.3.2) or leaf explants, see Method B (example 3.3.3).

For method C (see example 3.3.4), the hypocotyl and one and a half or part of both cotyledons were removed from each seedling. The seedlings were then placed on propagation media for 2 to 4 weeks. The seedlings produce several branched shoots to obtain explants from. The majority of the explants originated from the plantlet growing from the apical bud. These explants were preferably used as target tissue.

3.2—Growth and Preparation of Agrobacterium Culture

Agrobacterium cultures were prepared by streaking Agrobacterium (e.g., A. tumefaciens or A. rhizogenes) carrying the desired binary vector (e.g. H. Klee. R. Horsch and S. Rogers 1987 Agrobacterium-Mediated Plant Transformation and its further Applications to Plant Biology; Annual Review of Plant Physiology Vol. 38: 467-486) onto solid YEP growth medium YEP media: 10 g yeast extract, 10 g Bacto Peptone, 5 g NaCl, Adjust pH to 7.0, and bring final volume to 1 liter with H2O, for YEP agar plates add 20 g Agar, autoclave) and incubating at 25° C. until colonies appeared (about 2 days). Depending on the selectable marker genes present on the Ti or Ri plasmid, the binary vector, and the bacterial chromosomes, different selection compounds were be used for A. tumefaciens and rhizogenes selection in the YEP solid and liquid media. Various Agrobacterium strains can be used for the transformation method.

After approximately two days, a single colony (with a sterile toothpick) was picked and 50 ml of liquid YEP was inoculated with antibiotics and shaken at 175 rpm (25° C.) until an OD₆₀₀ between 0.8-1.0 is reached (approximately 2 d). Working glycerol stocks (15%) for transformation are prepared and one-ml of Agrobacterium stock aliquoted into 1.5 ml Eppendorf tubes then stored at −80° C.

The day before explant inoculation, 200 ml of YEP were inoculated with 5 μl to 3 ml of working Agrobacterium stock in a 500 ml Erlenmeyer flask. The flask was shaked overnight at 25° C. until the OD₆₀₀ was between 0.8 and 1.0. Before preparing the soy explants, the Agrobacteria were pelleted by centrifugation for 10 min at 5,500×g at 20° C. The pellet was resuspended in liquid CCM to the desired density (OD₆₀₀ 0.5-0.8) and placed at room temperature at least 30 min before use.

3.3—Explant Preparation and Co-Cultivation (Inoculation)

3.3.1 Method A: Explant Preparation on the Day of Transformation.

Seedlings at this time had elongated epicotyls from at least 0.5 cm but generally between 0.5 and 2 cm. Elongated epicotyls up to 4 cm in length had been successfully employed. Explants were then prepared with: i) with or without some roots, ii) with a partial, one or both cotyledons, all preformed leaves were removed including apical meristem, and the node located at the first set of leaves was injured with several cuts using a sharp scalpel.

This cutting at the node not only induced Agrobacterium infection but also distributed the axillary meristem cells and damaged pre-formed shoots. After wounding and preparation, the explants were set aside in a Petri dish and subsequently co-cultivated with the liquid CCM/Agrobacterium mixture for 30 minutes. The explants were then removed from the liquid medium and plated on top of a sterile filter paper on 15×100 mm Petri plates with solid co-cultivation medium. The wounded target tissues were placed such that they are in direct contact with the medium.

3.3.2 Modified Method A: Epicotyl Explant Preparation

Soyepicotyl segments prepared from 4 to 8 d old seedlings were used as explants for regeneration and transformation. Seeds of soya cv. L00106CN, 93-41131 and Jack were germinated in 1/10 MS salts or a similar composition medium with or without cytokinins for 4 to 8 d. Epicotyl explants were prepared by removing the cotyledonary node and stem node from the stem section. The epicotyl was cut into 2 to 5 segments. Especially preferred are segments attached to the primary or higher node comprising axillary meristematic tissue.

The explants were used for Agrobacterium infection. Agrobacterium AGL1 harboring a plasmid with the gene of interest (G01) and the AHAS, bar or dsdA selectable marker gene was cultured in LB medium with appropriate antibiotics overnight, harvested and resuspended in a inoculation medium with acetosyringone. Freshly prepared epicotyl segments were soaked in the Agrobacterium suspension for 30 to 60 min and then the explants were blotted dry on sterile filter papers. The inoculated explants were then cultured on a co-culture medium with L-cysteine and TTD and other chemicals such as acetosyringone for increasing T-DNA delivery for 2 to 4 d. The infected epicotyl explants were then placed on a shoot induction medium with selection agents such as imazapyr (for AHAS gene), glufosinate (for bar gene), or D-serine (for dsdA gene). The regenerated shoots were subcultured on elongation medium with the selective agent.

For regeneration of transgenic plants the segments were then cultured on a medium with cytokinins such as BAP, TDZ and/or Kinetin for shoot induction. After 4 to 8 weeks, the cultured tissues were transferred to a medium with lower concentration of cytokinin for shoot elongation.

Elongated shoots were transferred to a medium with auxin for rooting and plant development. Multiple shoots were regenerated.

Many stable transformed sectors showing strong cDNA expression were recovered. Soyplants were regenerated from epicotyl explants. Efficient T-DNA delivery and stable transformed sectors were demonstrated.

3.3.3 Method B: Leaf Explants

For the preparation of the leaf explant the cotyledon was removed from the hypocotyl. The cotyledons were separated from one another and the epicotyl is removed. The primary leaves, which consist of the lamina, the petiole, and the stipules, were removed from the epicotyl by carefully cutting at the base of the stipules such that the axillary meristems were included on the explant. To wound the explant as well as to stimulate de novo shoot formation, any pre-formed shoots were removed and the area between the stipules was cut with a sharp scalpel 3 to 5 times.

The explants are either completely immersed or the wounded petiole end dipped into the Agrobacterium suspension immediately after explant preparation. After inoculation, the explants are blotted onto sterile filter paper to remove excess Agrobacterium culture and place explants with the wounded side in contact with a round 7 cm Whatman paper overlaying the solid CCM medium (see above). This filter paper prevents A. tumefaciens overgrowth on the soy-explants. Wrap five plates with Parafilm™ “M” (American National Can, Chicago, Ill., USA) and incubate for three to five days in the dark or light at 25° C.

3.3.4 Method C: Propagated Axillary Meristem

For the preparation of the propagated axillary meristem explant propagated 3-4 week-old plantlets were used. Axillary meristem explants can be pre-pared from the first to the fourth node. An average of three to four explants could be obtained from each seedling. The explants were prepared from plantlets by cutting 0.5 to 1.0 cm below the axillary node on the internode and removing the petiole and leaf from the explant. The tip where the axillary meristems lie was cut with a scalpel to induce de novo shoot growth and allow access of target cells to the Agrobacterium. Therefore, a 0.5 cm explant included the stem and a bud.

Once cut, the explants were immediately placed in the Agrobacterium suspension for 20 to 30 minutes. After inoculation, the explants were blotted onto sterile filter paper to remove excess Agrobacterium culture then placed almost completely immersed in solid CCM or on top of a round 7 cm filter paper overlaying the solid CCM, depending on the Agrobacterium strain. This filter paper prevents Agrobacterium overgrowth on the soy-explants. Plates were wrapped with Parafilm™ “M” (American National Can, Chicago, Ill., USA) and incubated for two to three days in the dark at 25° C.

3.4—Shoot Induction

After 3 to 5 days co-cultivation in the dark at 25° C., the explants were rinsed in liquid SIM medium (to remove excess Agrobacterium) (SIM, see Olhoft et al 2007 A novel Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation method of soy using primary-node explants from seedlings In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol.—Plant (2007) 43:536-549; to remove excess Agrobacterium) or Modwash medium (1×B5 major salts, 1×B5 minor salts, 1×MSIII iron, 3% Sucrose, 1×B5 vitamins, 30 mM MES, 350 mg/L Timentin™ pH 5.6, WO 2005/121345) and blotted dry on sterile filter paper (to prevent damage especially on the lamina) before placing on the solid SIM medium. The approximately 5 explants (Method A) or 10 to 20 (Methods B and C) explants were placed such that the target tissue was in direct contact with the medium. During the first 2 weeks, the explants could be cultured with or without selective medium. Preferably, explants were transferred onto SIM without selection for one week.

For leaf explants (Method B), the explant should be placed into the medium such that it is perpendicular to the surface of the medium with the petiole imbedded into the medium and the lamina out of the medium.

For propagated axillary meristem (Method C), the explant was placed into the medium such that it was parallel to the surface of the medium (basipetal) with the explant partially embedded into the medium.

Wrap plates with Scotch 394 venting tape (3M, St. Paul, Minn., USA) were placed in a growth chamber for two weeks with a temperature averaging 25° C. under 18 h light/6 h dark cycle at 70-100 g/m²s. The explants remained on the SIM medium with or without selection until de novo shoot growth occurred at the target area (e.g., axillary meristems at the first node above the epicotyl). Transfers to fresh medium can occur during this time. Explants were transferred from the SIM with or without selection to SIM with selection after about one week. At this time, there was considerable de novo shoot development at the base of the petiole of the leaf explants in a variety of SIM (Method B), at the primary node for seedling explants (Method A), and at the axillary nodes of propagated explants (Method C).

Preferably, all shoots formed before transformation were removed up to 2 weeks after co-cultivation to stimulate new growth from the meristems. This helped to reduce chimerism in the primary transformant and increase amplification of transgenic meristematic cells. During this time the explant may or may not be cut into smaller pieces (i.e. detaching the node from the explant by cutting the epicotyl).

3.5—Shoot Elongation

After 2 to 4 weeks (or until a mass of shoots was formed) on SIM medium (preferably with selection), the explants were transferred to SEM medium (shoot elongation medium, see Olhoft et al 2007 A novel Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation method of soy using primary-node explants from seedlings. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol.—Plant (2007) 43:536-549) that stimulates shoot elongation of the shoot primordia. This medium may or may not contain a selection compound.

After every 2 to 3 weeks, the explants were transfer to fresh SEM medium (preferably containing selection) after carefully removing dead tissue. The explants should hold together and not fragment into pieces and retain somewhat healthy. The explants were continued to be transferred until the explant dies or shoots elongate. Elongated shoots >3 cm were removed and placed into RM medium for about 1 week (Method A and B), or about 2 to 4 weeks depending on the cultivar (Method C) at which time roots began to form. In the case of explants with roots, they were transferred directly into soil. Rooted shoots were transferred to soil and hardened in a growth chamber for 2 to 3 weeks before transferring to the greenhouse. Regenerated plants obtained using this method were fertile and produced on average 500 seeds per plant.

After 5 days of co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens transient expression of the gene of interest (G01) was widespread on the seedling axillary meristem explants especially in the regions wounding during explant preparation (Method A). Explants were placed into shoot induction medium without selection to see how the primary-node responds to shoot induction and regeneration. Thus far, greater than 70% of the explants were formed new shoots at this region. Expression of the GOI was stable after 14 days on SIM, implying integration of the T-DNA into the soy genome. In addition, preliminary experiments resulted in the formation of cDNA expressing shoots forming after 3 weeks on SIM.

For Method C, the average regeneration time of a soy plantlet using the propagated axillary meristem protocol was 14 weeks from explant inoculation. Therefore, this method has a quick regeneration time that leads to fertile, healthy soy plants.

Example 4: Pathogen Assay

4.1. Recovery of Clones

2-3 clones per T₀ event were potted into small 6 cm pots. For recovery the clones were kept for 12-18 days in the phytochamber (16 h-day- and 8 h-night-Rhythm at a temperature of 16°-22° C. and a humidity of 75%).

4.2 Inoculation

The plants were inoculated with P. pachyrhizi.

In order to obtain appropriate spore material for the inoculation, soy leaves which had been infected with rust 15-20 days ago, were taken 2-3 days before the inoculation and transferred to agar plates (1% agar in H2O). The leaves were placed with their upper side onto the agar, which allowed the fungus to grow through the tissue and to produce very young spores. For the inoculation solution, the spores were knocked off the leaves and were added to a Tween-H2O solution. The counting of spores was performed under a light microscope by means of a Thoma counting chamber. For the inoculation of the plants, the spore suspension was added into a compressed-air operated spray flask and applied uniformly onto the plants or the leaves until the leaf surface is well moisturized. For macroscopic assays we used a spore density of 1-5×105 spores/ml. For the microscopy, a density of >5×105 spores/ml is used. The inoculated plants were placed for 24 hours in a greenhouse chamber with an average of 22° C. and >90% of air humidity. The following cultivation was performed in a chamber with an average of 25° C. and 70% of air humidity.

Example 5: Microscopical Screening

For the evaluation of the pathogen development, the inoculated leaves of plants were stained with aniline blue 48 hours after infection.

The aniline blue staining serves for the detection of fluorescent substances. During the defense reactions in host interactions and non-host interactions, substances such as phenols, callose or lignin accumulated or were produced and were incorporated at the cell wall either locally in papillae or in the whole cell (hypersensitive reaction, HR). Complexes were formed in association with aniline blue, which lead e.g. in the case of callose to yellow fluorescence. The leaf material was transferred to falcon tubes or dishes containing destaining solution II (ethanol/acetic acid 6/1) and was incubated in a water bath at 90° C. for 10-15 minutes. The destaining solution II was removed immediately thereafter, and the leaves were washed 2× with water. For the staining, the leaves were incubated for 1.5-2 hours in staining solution II (0.05% aniline blue=methyl blue, 0.067 M di-potassium hydrogen phosphate) and analyzed by microscopy immediately thereafter.

The different interaction types were evaluated (counted) by microscopy. An Olympus UV microscope BX61 (incident light) and a UV Longpath filter (excitation: 375/15, Beam splitter: 405 LP) are used. After aniline blue staining, the spores appeared blue under UV light. The papillae could be recognized beneath the fungal appressorium by a green/yellow staining. The hypersensitive reaction (HR) was characterized by a whole cell fluorescence.

Example 6: Evaluating the Susceptibility to Soybean Rust

The progression of the soybean rust disease was scored by the estimation of the diseased area (area which was covered by sporulating uredinia) on the backside (abaxial side) of the leaf. Additionally the yellowing of the leaf was taken into account (for scheme see FIG. 2).

T₀ soybean plants expressing hydrophobin protein (as shown in SEQ ID NO: 30) were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The macroscopic disease symptoms of soy against P. pachyrhizi of 25 T₀ soybean plants were scored 14 days after inoculation.

The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 25 soybean T₀ plants expressing hydrophobin (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. Clones from non-transgenic soy plants were used as control. The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 3 for plants expressing recombinant hydrophobin compared with wildtype plants. Overexpression of hydrophobin reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 26% in average over all events generated. This data clearly indicates that the in-planta expression of the hydrophobin expression vector construct significantly (*: p<0.05) leads to a lower disease scoring of transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic controls. So, the expression of a hydrophobin nucleic acid (as shown in SEQ ID NO: 29) in the soybean epidermis increases the resistance of soy against soybean rust.

Example 7: Production of Purified Hydrophobin Proteins

The Hydrophobin proteins can be ordered at various companies. For example the hydrophobin SC3 (SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44) was purchased from Biomade Technology (Groningen, Netherlands) and HFPII protein (SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46) was custom synthezised by VTT (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, LASKUT, Finland). The other hydrophobin proteins were produced as a protein-fusion with the yaad-protein for better expression (yaaD_TT1: SEQ ID NO: 52, yaaD_HFPI: SEQ ID NO: 50, yaaD_HFBII: SEQ ID NO: 48). The yaad protein represents the synthase subunit Pdx1 (Yaad) of Plp synthase from Bacillus subtilis. The protein fusions were subsequently purified as described in WO 2007/014897.

Example 8: Spray-Application of Hydrophobin Proteins

Soybean wild type plants were grown in the phytochamber for 12-18 days (16 h-day- und 8 k-night-rhythm at a temperature of 16° to 22° C. und a humidity of ˜75%).

Twenty-five (25) days-old plants were sprayed with a hydrophobin-protein solution (solved in PBS) to obtain a concentration of 1 mg/m², which is enough to obtain a fully covered monolayer of hydrophobin. 24 h after the application of hydrophobin the plants were inoculated with soybean rust spores, as described in Example 4. For each hydrophobin protein 10 plants were inoculated with the soybean rust fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi.

Fourteen (14) days after the inoculation with soybean rust, the diseased leaf area was scored by the estimation of the diseased area (area which was covered by sporulating uredinia) on the backside (abaxial side) of the leaf. Additionally the yellowing of the leaf was taken into account (for scheme see FIG. 2).

The macroscopic disease symptoms of hydrophobin-sprayed soybean (10 plants per hydrophobin variant) were scored 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 50 soybean T₀ plants sprayed with 5 different hydrophobin varieties (HFBII: SEQ ID NO: 45, Hydrophbin_SC3: SEQ-ID NO: 43, yaaD_TT1: SEQ ID NO: 52, yaaD HFPI: SEQ ID NO: 50, yaaD_HFBII: SEQ ID NO: 48).

The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 5 for plants sprayed with hydrophobin HFBII, Hydrophbin_SC3 and yaaD_HFPI compared with untreated soybean plants. Spraying with these hydrophobin variants reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 6%-20% in average over all plants tested. The results for yaaD TT1 and yaaD_HFBII were 51.1% and 47.3%, respectively. These results might be explained with the observation that coverage of the leaves with the hydrophobin after spraying was partially incomplete.

The data obtained with applying hydrophobins to a plant surface thus clearly indicates that the application of hydrophobins leads to a lower disease scoring compared to non-transgenic controls. The formulation for applying the hydrophobins to the plant surface by spraying might be further improved, e.g., by the addition of surfactants or detergents.

Overall the results demonstrate that the application of hydrophobins to soybean plants increases the resistance of soy against fungal pathogens. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for preventing, reducing, or delaying Phakopsora infection in a plant, plant part, or plant cell, the method comprising: applying a hydrophobin protein or a hydrophobin fusion protein to a surface of a soybean plant, soybean plant part or soybean plant cell, wherein the hydrophobin protein or the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO: 10, 43, or 44; and growing the soybean plant, soybean plant part, or soybean plant cell in the presence of a fungal pathogen of the genus Phakopsora, wherein Phakopsora infection is prevented, reduced, or delayed in the soybean plant, soybean plant part, or soybean plant cell as compared to a plant, plant part, or plant cell to which surface the hydrophobin protein or the hydrophobin fusion protein has not been applied.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobin protein or the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 10, 43, or
 44. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobin protein or the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 90% identity with SEQ ID NO: 10, 43, or
 44. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobin protein or the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 95% identity with SEQ ID NO: 10, 43, or
 44. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobin protein or the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 98% identity with SEQ ID NO: 10, 43, or
 44. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobin protein or the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises an amino acid sequence with 100% identity with SEQ ID NO: 10, 43, or
 44. 